NLC opposes King’s College concession, warns against commercialisation of Unity Colleges

By Moses Akwashiki

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the proposed concessioning of King’s College, Lagos, to its Old Boys Association, warning that the initiative could set a precedent leading to the commercialisation of federal Unity Colleges across the country.

In an official statement, NLC President Comrade Joe Ajaero noted that recent public protests against the proposal highlight growing anxiety over the future of public secondary education in Nigeria.

Ajaero acknowledged that the effort by the King’s College Old Boys Association stems from genuine concern over the institution’s decay—a decline he attributed to years of government neglect, chronic underfunding, corruption, indiscipline, and failing infrastructure.

These issues, he observed, have steadily eroded the historic reputation of one of Nigeria’s premier secondary institutions.

However, he cautioned that despite the old boys’ good intentions, handing over management responsibilities to private entities poses long-term risks to public education.

“Once the King’s College Old Boys initiative succeeds, relying on precedent, other Unity Colleges will be concessioned to nebulous entities, entities of doubtful origin without the capacity to manage secondary school education,” Ajaero warned.

He expressed concern that concessioning would inevitably trigger new tuition fees and service charges, pricing these institutions out of reach for children from average-income families regardless of their academic merit.

Reiterating that public education is a fundamental state duty, Ajaero stated, “The obligation to educate its citizenry resides with the State. It is a duty it cannot abdicate.”

He pointed out that the Federal Government previously took over mission schools to assume full responsibility for their funding and maintenance, noting that governments in advanced market economies continue to fully fund public schools and universities.

“Why would our case be different?” he asked.

Fully endorsing the protests against the plan, the NLC president called on the Federal Government to fulfill its responsibility by properly funding and maintaining Unity Colleges.

He emphasized that these institutions play an irreplaceable role in fostering national integration by bringing young Nigerians from diverse backgrounds together at a formative stage in their lives.

Rather than surrendering management to non-state actors, Ajaero urged the government to preserve a balanced educational system that fosters healthy competition among public, private, and mission-owned schools.

He concluded by questioning the trajectory of ongoing privatization efforts: “Finally, even as we run a market economy, what will be too sacred for government to concession?”