… Demands Thorough Investigation Of Miners’ Death
By Our Reporter, With Agency Reports
THE NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) has opposed the Federal Government’s concession of King’s College, Lagos to the institution’s Old Boys’ Association, warning that the arrangement could set a precedent for the transfer of other Federal Unity Colleges to private or non-state managers.
In a press statement dated September 20, 2026, and signed by NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero, the Congress said the controversy over King’s College was rooted in a genuine concern by the school’s alumni about years of neglect, inadequate funding, deteriorating infrastructure and declining standards.
He, however, argued that allowing the alumni association to assume responsibility for the management of the 117-year-old institution could have consequences extending beyond King’s College.
According to the NLC, the initiative by the King’s College Old Boys’ Association may have been motivated by a desire to restore the institution to its former standard, but he warned that its success could encourage similar arrangements involving other Federal Unity Colleges.
It questioned whether such a model could eventually lead to schools being placed under the control of entities whose capacity, accountability and long-term commitment to public secondary education may not be guaranteed.
A central concern raised by the labour centre was the possible effect of concession arrangements on affordability, arguing that if privately-managed or concessioned unity schools begin introducing higher fees and other charges, children from average-income families could find it increasingly difficult to attend the institutions, regardless of their academic ability.
The NLC maintained that the provision of education remains a responsibility of the state and urged the Federal Government to continue funding and maintaining public secondary schools rather than transferring their management through concession arrangements.
The Congress also questioned why Nigeria should take a different approach from countries where governments continue to fund public schools and universities despite the existence of private education providers.
NLC’s position comes amid weeks of protests and industrial action by education-sector workers, parents and other stakeholders over the King’s College arrangement.
The controversy intensified in September as Federal Unity Colleges resumed for the 2026/27 academic session. On September 10, the Joint Congress of Unions in the Federal Ministry of Education directed workers in the unity colleges not to resume until further notice, citing opposition to the reported 35-year concession of King’s College to its Old Boys’ Association.
The dispute subsequently affected the resumption of students in unity colleges in different parts of the country, with parents and workers protesting the arrangement.
At King’s College itself, workers on September 15 blocked members of the Old Boys’ Association from entering the school premises for a scheduled press conference. The alumni representatives eventually addressed journalists outside the school gates.
Demands Thorough Investigation Miners’ Death
Meanwhile, the NLC has demanded a thorough, transparent and independent investigation into the death of 37 persons in NSCDC custody.
Comrade Ajaero made the demand in a statement on Monday, while calling for accountability and justice over the death. He said the victims were arrested during operations against suspected illegal mining in Niger on Sept. 15 and 16.
“Reports indicate that many of those who died were young people, including minors,” Ajaero said.
He said the Federal Government had constituted an independent committee to establish the identities of the deceased and determine the circumstances surrounding their deaths.
“The committee is expected to establish the identities of the deceased, circumstances of their arrest and detention, and the cause of their deaths,” he said.
Ajaero welcomed the suspension of officers connected with the incident but stressed that the measure must not replace accountability and justice.
He said the NLC mourned the victims and commiserated with the Government and people of Niger over the deaths.
The NLC president attributed participation in artisanal mining and other vulnerable informal activities to poverty, unemployment, deprivation and lack of decent livelihood opportunities.
“These were children and young people from working-class and peasant families, particularly families whose livelihoods depend on the informal economy,” Ajaero said.
He called for stronger regulation of artisanal and small-scale mining, enforcement of occupational safety standards and prohibition of hazardous child labour.
Ajaero also urged government to remove children from hazardous mining activities and provide affected families with education, skills development, social protection and alternative livelihoods.
He called for measures to address rural poverty, youth unemployment, lack of decent work and inadequate social protection.
“We cannot continue to address the symptoms of these problems while ignoring their underlying causes.”
