NLC warns FG against backdoor sale of Unity Colleges

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By Victor Ahiuma-Young

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The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has rejected the Federal Government’s plan to concession the management of Kings College, Lagos, warning that the move could lead to the privatisation of the nation’s Unity Colleges “through the back door.”

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NLC President, Joe Ajaero, stated this in a statement issued against the backdrop of protests by various groups over the proposed concession of the college to its alumni association.

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Ajaero said the proposed concession was reportedly being considered as a pilot for similar arrangements involving other Unity Colleges.

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According to him, the concerns that prompted the old students’ association to seek control of the school’s management arose from years of alleged neglect, underfunding, corruption, indiscipline and deteriorating facilities.

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He said the alumni’s interest in taking over the management was therefore understandable, given their desire to restore the school’s lost standards.

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However, Ajaero warned that the arrangement could create a precedent that would expose other government-owned secondary schools to concessions involving entities whose capacity to manage them might be uncertain.

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“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,” he said.

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The NLC president also expressed concern that concessioning could eventually lead to increased school fees and other charges, potentially making the colleges inaccessible to students from average-income families.

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He maintained that the responsibility for providing education remained a duty of the state, which, according to him, could not be abdicated through concession arrangements.

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Ajaero said the government had previously taken over schools established by missionary organisations and therefore had a responsibility to continue funding and maintaining them.

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“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.

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The NLC consequently endorsed protests against the proposed concession of Kings College and other Unity Colleges, urging the Federal Government to adequately fund and maintain the institutions.

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According to Ajaero, the Unity Colleges have made significant contributions to national integration and quality education over the years.

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He urged the government to sustain competition among missionary, private and government-owned schools rather than concessioning public institutions.

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“Rather than sell the schools through the back door, government should maintain or sustain the culture of open competition between missionary schools, private schools and government schools,” he said.

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The NLC president added: “Even as we run a market economy, what will be too sacred for government to concession?”

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