NLC opposes King’s College concession, warns it could put Unity Colleges at risk

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has voiced its opposition to the proposed concession of King’s College, Lagos, arguing that it could set a dangerous precedent for other Federal unity colleges. In a statement released on September 20, 2026, in Abuja, the NLC's National President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, raised concerns about the potential consequences of such a concession.

Ajaero expressed his worry over the possibility of dubious entities taking over the management of secondary schools without the necessary capabilities to run them effectively. He warned that this could result in higher fees and tariffs, making these institutions inaccessible to students from average families, regardless of their academic abilities.

The NLC president highlighted that the incumbent government's plan to hand over the management of King’s College to the college's alumni, as a pilot for broader concessions, is driven by years of neglect, underfunding, corruption, and poor service delivery. Ajaero emphasized that the old students' association's attempt to take over the school is motivated by a sincere desire to restore the school's reputation.

However, he cautioned that if successful, this precedent could jeopardize the quality of secondary education provided by other Federal unity colleges.