Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has strongly criticized the recent school fees increment by both the federal and Lagos state governments, labeling the move as illegal.
This condemnation comes in response to significant fee hikes that have sparked widespread concern among parents and guardians.
In July 2023, the federal government increased the fees for Unity Schools from N45,000 to N100,000 per term, marking a staggering 120% rise. Similarly, the Lagos State government recently announced that fees for state-owned boarding schools would jump from N35,000 to N100,000 per term.
These changes mean that parents now face an annual cost of N300,000 per student. Falana argues that these increases are not only exorbitant but also violate the Child’s Rights Act and the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law. He pointed out that with the minimum wage set at N70,000, many workers would find it impossible to afford their children's education under the new fee structure.
"A worker can no longer sponsor even one child either in the Unity School or any secondary school in Lagos State," he lamented.
The human rights lawyer emphasized that every child is entitled to free and compulsory education from primary school to junior secondary school under the Child’s Rights Act. "To that extent, the imposition of N100,000 fee on students in junior secondary schools in Unity Schools and secondary schools in Lagos State is illegal," Falana stated.
He vowed to challenge the decision in the appropriate High Courts, underscoring the broader socioeconomic implications and legal challenges posed by such prohibitive fee hikes.
"In view of the clear provisions of the Child’s Rights Laws applicable in all states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, the illegal imposition of prohibitive fees on junior secondary school students will be challenged in the appropriate High Courts," he declared.
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