Human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, has condemned the recent hike in school fees by both the federal and Lagos state governments, calling the decision illegal.
The federal government had earlier increased the fees for Unity Schools from N45,000 to N100,000 per term, marking a rise of over 120%, while Lagos State raised the fees for state-owned boarding schools from N35,000 to N100,000.
Falana criticized the fee increases, citing a violation of the Child’s Rights Act and the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law. He argued that the new fees, which exceed the minimum wage of N70,000, make it impossible for an average worker to afford the education of even one child in these schools. Falana expressed his intent to challenge the decision in the High Courts, describing it as detrimental to the rights and future of children from working-class families.
He wrote, “The federal government has increased fees 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 4 months is N280,000. 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 & compulsory education from primary school to junior secondary school. To that extent, the imposition of N100,000 Fee on students in junior secondary schools in Unity Schools and secondary schools Lagos State is illegal.”
“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.”
“Meanwhile, on July 10, 2024, the Executive Secretary of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi revealed that over N45.7 billion matching grant to state governments for the implementation of Universal Basic Education (UBE) between 2020 and 2023 has not been accessed by many states governments.”
