…threatens to sue govts
… says workers can’t afford fees with N70,000 minimum wage
Human Rights Lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN has condemned the recent increment in school fees by the Federal and Lagos State Government, describing it as “illegal.”
Recall that the Federal Government had in July 2023 increased fees for Unity Schools from N45,000 to N100,000 per term an increase of over 120 per cent. Similarly, the Lagos State Government, at the weekend announced N100,000 as the new fee for the state-owned boarding schools which was previously, N35,000.
Falana in his reaction, described it as a violation of the Child’s Rights Law.
He lamented that with the increase being above the Minimum Wage of N70,000, “a worker can no longer sponsor even one child either in Unity School or any secondary school in Lagos State.
Falana, however, vowed to challenge the decision in the appropriate High Court.
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.
“Meanwhile, on July 10, 2024, the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission, (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, revealed that over N45. 7 billion matching grant to the state government for the implementation of Universal Basic Education, UBE, between 2020 and 2023 has not been accessed by many state governments.”
