Inconsistency in the implementation of educational policies by successive administrations helped to ruin Nigeria's 102 unity schools, Former Head of State , General Yakubu Gowon has said.

Gowon who spoke as Chairman of the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Federal Government College Ilorin in Abuja said as Head of State he decided to replicate unity schools across the states because Nigeria was just coming out of the civil war.

"My country believed strongly that we could fast track the process of national reconciliation and unity by bringing together young unpolluted minds from across Nigeria to study, learn and socialise with one another regardless of their socio-economic and cultural backgrounds," he said.

Gowon however said over the course of several years, many of the Federal Government Colleges have ceased to be models of excellence with dilapidated physical infrastructures, decrepit laboratories and worsening classroom and hostel facilities.

He said the exodus of quality teachers to private schools because of better remunerations and learning environment and the criterion of admitting nearly 70 per cent of intakes on the basis of 'placement by catchment area' had worsened the situation.