This manuscript examines historical development of private secondary school education in Nigeria (1859-present). In the process, it examines the growth of private secondary school education with reference to quantity of resources since 1859, and then the quality of the education. Historical research method was employed because the study is historical in nature. It was found that private secondary school education in Nigeria was started by the Christian missionaries; the local communities subsequently established private secondary schools too. The government later established public schools. It is concluded that the policy of free secondary education (junior secondary education) by government should be implemented in such a way that would prevent industrial actions by teachers. Moreover, it is recommended that the free education policy should apply not only to junior secondary school education, but also to senior secondary school education.