A storm of controversy has engulfed Queen’s College, Yaba, one of Nigeria’s most prestigious federal unity schools, as parents accuse the administration and Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of orchestrating a sophisticated extortion scheme. The allegations, which surfaced on April 25, 2025, have sparked outrage, with parents claiming that unauthorized levies are being imposed in defiance of Federal Government regulations. This scandal threatens to tarnish the reputation of an institution long revered for its academic excellence and raises broader questions about governance in Nigeria’s unity schools.
Queen’s College, established in 1927, is a flagship institution under the Federal Ministry of Education, designed to foster national unity through co-educational excellence. However, recent developments suggest that financial impropriety has taken root. According to aggrieved parents, the school management, in collusion with the PTA, has been levying fees for services ranging from extracurricular activities to infrastructure maintenance, none of which are sanctioned by federal guidelines. These levies, often presented as mandatory, range from N50,000 to N200,000 per term, placing a heavy burden on families already grappling with Nigeria’s economic challenges.
Mrs. Chinyere Okonkwo, a parent and spokesperson for the Concerned Parents Forum, detailed the ordeal: “We were told to pay N150,000 for a so-called library renovation, but the library remains in disrepair. Where is the money going?” Other parents report being coerced into paying for uniforms, textbooks, and even examination fees, despite government policies mandating free basic education in unity schools. Refusal to comply, they claim, results in subtle victimization, such as withholding report cards or barring students from classes.
The Federal Government’s directive, issued in 2023, explicitly prohibits unity schools from imposing levies beyond approved boarding fees. Yet, Queen’s College appears to have flouted this mandate with impunity. Investigations by The Guardian Nigeria revealed a pattern of financial opacity, with no public audits of PTA accounts and vague expenditure reports. A former PTA member, speaking anonymously, alleged that funds were being diverted to personal accounts, with some administrators allegedly purchasing properties in upscale Lagos neighborhoods.
The scandal has drawn the ire of education activists, who see it as symptomatic of broader mismanagement in Nigeria’s unity schools. Dr. Ismail Junaid, a policy analyst, argues that the lack of oversight has allowed school administrators to exploit parents. “Unity schools were meant to be models of equity, but they’ve become cash cows for greedy officials,” he said. The situation is compounded by Nigeria’s economic downturn, with inflation rates hovering at 33% in 2025, making such levies particularly punitive.
Students, too, are caught in the crossfire. Aisha, a Senior Secondary 2 student, shared how the financial strain has affected her peers: “Some of my friends can’t afford the fees, so they miss classes or drop out. It’s unfair.” The psychological toll on students, coupled with disrupted learning, underscores the urgency of addressing the crisis.
In response, the Federal Ministry of Education has promised a thorough investigation. A spokesperson confirmed that a task force would be deployed to Queen’s College to probe the allegations. However, parents remain skeptical, citing past instances where similar probes yielded no results. They are now calling for the suspension of the school’s principal and PTA executives pending the investigation’s outcome.
The Queen’s College saga is not an isolated incident. Across Nigeria, unity schools have faced similar accusations, from admission racketeering to inflated contract costs. This trend points to a deeper malaise in educational governance, where accountability is scarce, and parents are left at the mercy of unscrupulous administrators. The Nigeria Union of Teachers has urged the government to implement stricter monitoring mechanisms, including digital payment systems to track school fees and eliminate cash-based extortion.
For Queen’s College, the path to redemption lies in transparency and accountability. Restoring trust will require not only punishing culprits but also ensuring that funds are used to enhance learning environments. Parents are also advocating for greater involvement in school governance, proposing elected parent representatives to oversee financial decisions.
As the nation watches, the Queen’s College scandal serves as a litmus test for Nigeria’s commitment to equitable education. The dreams of thousands of students hang in the balance, and only decisive action can salvage the legacy of this historic institution.
