Falana talks tough, vows to drag FG, Lagos State Govt. to court over sudden hike in school fees

Nigeria’s renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has strongly denounced the recent hike in school fees by the Federal and Lagos State Governments, labelling it as “illegal.”

He said this in reaction to the decision of the Federal Government to increase fees for Unity Schools from N45,000 to N100,000 per term, a staggering 120% increase.

The Lagos State Government also followed suit as it announced a new fee of N100,000 for state-owned boarding schools, which was previously N35,000.

Falana argues that this increase violates the Child’s Rights Law, which guarantees free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school.

He emphasised that with the minimum wage standing at N70,000, it’s impossible for a worker to afford the education of even one child in Unity Schools or Lagos secondary schools.

The lawyer vows to take legal action to challenge the surge.

According to him, “The Federal Government has increased fee payable in all unity schools from N45, 000 to N100, 000 per term. Thus, the fee payable per annum is N300,000 per student.

“Similarly, the Lagos State Government has fixed fees payable in all secondary schools at N100,000 per term or N300,000 per annum by every student.

“At N70,000 minimum wage, the salary of a worker per term of four months is N28,000. The implication is that a worker can no longer sponsor even one child either in the unity school or any secondary school in Lagos State.

“However, under the Child’s Rights Act and Lagos State Child’s Rights Law, every child is entitled to free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school. To that extent, the imposition of N100,000 fees on students in junior secondary schools in Unity Schools and Secondary schools in Lagos is illegal.

“In view of the clear provisions of the Child’s Rights Laws applicable in all the states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the illegal imposition of prohibitive fees on junior secondary school students will be challenged in the appropriate High Court.”