President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Joe Ajaero, has voiced opposition to the proposed concession of Kings College, Lagos, to its alumni association, warning that such a move could pave the way for the privatisation of federal unity colleges across the country.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Ajaero expressed support for recent protests against plans to hand over the management of the prestigious school to its old boys’ association, describing the proposal as a potentially dangerous precedent for public secondary education in Nigeria.
According to the NLC president, the interest of the Kings College alumni in assuming management of the institution stems from years of neglect, inadequate funding, corruption, deteriorating infrastructure, indiscipline and poor service delivery, which have affected the school’s standards and reputation.
He acknowledged that the alumni’s initiative was driven by a genuine desire to restore the institution to its former glory. However, he argued that allowing the arrangement to proceed could open the door for similar concessions involving other federal unity colleges.
Ajaero cautioned that once Kings College is concessioned, other schools could eventually be handed over to organisations whose backgrounds and capacities to manage secondary education may be questionable.
He further warned that such a development could lead to increased school fees and other charges, making quality education inaccessible to students from average-income families despite their academic abilities.
“The responsibility of educating citizens rests with the state, and it is a duty government cannot abdicate,” he said.
The labour leader noted that governments around the world continue to fund and manage public schools, including universities, stressing that Nigeria should not be an exception.
He also recalled that government had previously returned many schools acquired from missionary organisations, suggesting that maintaining public secondary education should remain a key responsibility of the state.
Ajaero therefore urged the Federal Government to adequately fund and sustain Kings College and other unity schools, citing their historical role in promoting national integration and providing quality education to generations of Nigerians.
He maintained that instead of pursuing concession arrangements, government should preserve healthy competition among public, private and missionary schools while ensuring that federal institutions remain accessible to all Nigerians.
Questioning the broader implications of the policy, Ajaero asked what public assets would remain beyond concession if educational institutions of national importance were handed over to private interests.
The debate over the future management of Kings College has continued to generate reactions from stakeholders, with supporters arguing that alumni involvement could help revive the institution, while critics fear it could undermine government’s commitment to public education.
