The Nigerian government has faced criticism over its plan to concession some of the country's unity colleges, including the 117-year-old King's College, Lagos. The government has argued that the concession is necessary due to years of neglect and underfunding, which have led to infrastructural deterioration and declining academic standards. The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, has announced that the concession will go ahead, despite opposition from various groups.
The Association of Senior Civil Servants (ASCSN) has been vocal in its opposition to the concession, citing fears of job losses for its members and potential fee hikes that could make the colleges inaccessible to ordinary Nigerians. The ASCSN took a drastic step by shutting down King's College and all 112 unity colleges across the country, instructing students not to resume for the 2026/27 academic session. The association's actions were motivated by concerns that the concession would lead to a repetition of the situation at King's College across all unity colleges.
Following the ASCSN's protest, the Minister of Education has set up a 7-man committee to review the concession agreement with the King's College Old Boys Association (KCOBA). The committee will take into consideration the concerns raised by the ASCSN. The minister has also postponed the concession for two weeks, allowing for further negotiations. The ASCSN has since suspended its strike, pending the outcome of the review.
The concession of unity colleges is not a new phenomenon. The Oyo State Government successfully concessioned Government College, Ibadan, to its old boys two years ago, with positive results. Another example is Government College, Umuahia, which was established in 1929 and had produced notable alumni such as Chinua Achebe and Ken Saro-Wiwa. In 2014, the Abia State Government partnered with the college's old boys' association to manage the college under a public-private partnership, leading to significant improvements.
The partnership between the Abia State Government and the Government College, Umuahia, old boys' association has led to the renovation and rebuilding of dilapidated structures, the clearing of illegal structures, and massive investment in teacher recruitment and training. The college has reportedly risen from the ashes, with improved infrastructure and academic standards. This success story could serve as a model for other unity colleges.
There are also arguments that the federal government should not run secondary schools, as this is not its constitutional responsibility. According to Dr. Mohammed Lawan Yahuza, a director in the Federal Ministry of Education, the federal government is responsible for tertiary education, while state and local governments handle primary and secondary schools. He suggests that unity colleges could be handed over to state governments, which could decide what to do with them.
The debate over the ownership and management of unity colleges highlights the need for a rethink on the role of the federal government in secondary education. With the current budget for federal government colleges exceeding that of universities, there are calls for a more prudent allocation of resources. As the government and stakeholders continue to engage on the concession of unity colleges, the fate of these institutions and the future of education in Nigeria hang in the balance.
Key points
- The Nigerian government's plan to concession unity colleges has faced opposition from the Association of Senior Civil Servants.
- The concession of unity colleges is not a new phenomenon, with some states successfully partnering with old boys' associations to manage the colleges.
- There are arguments that the federal government should not run secondary schools, as this is not its constitutional responsibility.
