MINISTER'S "NO GOING BACK" DECLARATION CANNOT OVERRIDE A SUBSISTING COURT ORDER.

The Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association, FGCKOSA, notes reports in Daily Trust, The PUNCH and The Guardian concerning statements made by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, during his visit to FGC Kano on 20 July 2026. The Minister reportedly declared that the Federal Government would not reverse the proposed land-swap transaction, arguing that supposedly underutilised school land should be exchanged for classrooms, hostels and other infrastructure.

FGCKOSA rejects any attempt to present this dispute as a contest between development and sentiment. We have never opposed the development of FGC Kano. We oppose what we maintain is an opaque, unfair and unlawful transfer of a permanent public educational asset to a private developer under the guise of development.

The Minister is reminded that the High Court of Justice of Kano State, in Suit No. K/323/2026, granted an interim injunction on 8 April 2026 restraining the defendants, their agents and assigns from constructing, building, surveying or otherwise dealing with the disputed land. The order also directed the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the motion before the court.

That order has not been set aside.

A declaration that there is "no going back" is therefore neither a legal answer nor a licence to disregard judicial authority. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated unequivocally on 16 April 2026: "We cannot submit to disobedience of a lawful order of the court; we must embrace the judiciary, whether it favours us or not." The Honourable Minister is bound by that standard. Executive determination cannot prevail over a subsisting order of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Through the Federal Government College Kano Alumni Foundation, the alumni will shortly submit a comprehensive development proposal under which:
1. FGC Kano retains all its land;
2. World-class educational infrastructure is delivered;
3. School fees are frozen for 20 years; and
4. Federal character and national inclusiveness in enrolment are preserved.

If the Ministry's true objective is the growth of FGC Kano and the improvement of educational standards, the alumni framework is plainly superior in every material respect. It delivers infrastructure without dispossessing the College, weakening affordability, diminishing its future expansion capacity or compromising its national character.

The alumni has no desire to take or buy any land from the school, or to "take-over" the school. We are only interested in preserving the heritage of our alma mater, developing it into a hub of academic excellence and making it a reference point for educational advancement.

That model is also more consistent with President Tinubu's publicly stated standards. The President has directed government agencies to pursue public-private partnerships while remaining accountable for prudent spending and value for money. He has equally affirmed that every child should have access to quality education without being left behind.

The Ministry must therefore explain why it is determined to surrender a permanent school asset when substantially greater educational benefits can be achieved while preserving every inch of the College's land.

FGCKOSA and its National Executive Council remain united and steadfast in opposition to the proposed transaction. We demand strict obedience to the court order, the suspension of every physical and administrative step concerning the disputed land, and objective consideration of the superior alumni proposal.

Development does not require dispossession.
A public school should not be stripped of its future in order to repair its present.

Signed
For: Federal Government College Kano Old Students Association
FGCKOSA National Executive Council