President Bola Tinubu has declined a request by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN) for the return of mission schools to their original owners, saying the matter falls within the constitutional powers of state governments rather than the Federal Government.
Speaking during an engagement with the Catholic bishops, Tinubu recalled that he returned mission schools to their owners while serving as Governor of Lagos State, but stressed that governors now have the authority to make similar decisions in their respective states.
“I returned all the mission schools to the church during my tenure as Lagos State Governor. One of you, Cardinal Anthony Okogie, is alive to testify to that. But the schools are in the states. Preach to them, the governors of your states. They do the job. There is no need for a constitutional amendment for that,” the President said.
The President’s remarks came in response to an appeal by the Catholic bishops, who urged the Federal Government to support the restoration of mission schools taken over by regional and state governments decades ago. Many Christian denominations have long argued that returning the schools would improve educational standards, discipline and moral instruction.
Tinubu maintained that education at the primary and secondary levels is largely under the jurisdiction of state governments under Nigeria’s federal system. As a result, he said any decision to return mission schools rests with governors rather than the Presidency or the National Assembly.
The issue of mission schools has remained contentious for decades, particularly in southern Nigeria, where many schools established by churches before independence were later taken over by governments. While some states, including Lagos during Tinubu’s administration, returned mission schools to their original owners, several others have retained government control.
Tinubu has previously acknowledged the significant contributions of the Catholic Church to education and healthcare in Nigeria and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to working with religious organisations in promoting national development and social harmony.
