By Joyce Ekeh
The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has rejected the Federal Government’s concession of Kings College, Lagos, warning that the move could pave the way for the “back-door” privatisation of the nation’s Unity Colleges.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, said the labour centre was concerned that the concession of Kings College to its old students could become a precedent for handing over other Unity Colleges to private or “nebulous” entities.
Ajaero, in a press statement, acknowledged the concerns that prompted the Kings College Old Boys Association to seek control of the institution, noting that years of neglect, underfunding, corruption, indiscipline and deteriorating infrastructure had undermined the once-prestigious school.
He, however, said the initiative, despite its stated intention of restoring the school’s glory, could create serious consequences for public secondary education if it becomes a model for future concessions.
He said: “Once the Kings 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, akin to the Daily Times story.
“Coupled with this, soon enough new school fees and tariffs will place the colleges out of the reach of students from average families, no matter their intellectual endowments. Yet, the obligation to educate its citizenry resides with the State. It is a duty it cannot abdicate.”
The NLC president argued that government remained responsible for funding and maintaining public secondary education, noting that governments in developed economies continued to fund schools and universities.
According to him, Nigeria’s acquisition of schools previously managed by missionary organisations had also placed responsibility for their maintenance on government.
“Having learnt and accordingly returned the schools it acquired from the missions, the burden of maintaining secondary-level education is assumed to be considerably less. Even in advanced economies, there are quite a number of schools, including universities, that are funded by government. Why would our case be different?” he asked.
The NLC therefore endorsed protests against the concession of Kings College and other Unity Colleges, urging the Federal Government to adequately fund and maintain the institutions.
Ajaero said the colleges had made significant contributions to national unity and quality education, particularly by bringing together students from different parts of the country.
“We urge the government to sufficiently fund and maintain those colleges for their noble contributions to our history and society. Their contributions to unity at an impressionistic age and quality education cannot be quantified,” he said.
Rather than concessioning the schools, the NLC urged the government to sustain an open and competitive education system involving missionary, private and government schools.
The labour centre also questioned the broader policy of concessioning public institutions and services, asking: “Even as we run a market economy, what will be too sacred for government to concession?”
