Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), has voiced his strong disapproval of the recent hike in school fees by the Federal Government of Nigeria and the Lagos State Government, describing these increases as both exploitative and illegal. The hike has sparked widespread criticism from parents and activists, with Falana leading the charge by threatening legal action to protect the rights of students and families across the country.
The Fee Hike and Its Impact
In July 2023, the Federal Government raised the tuition fees for Unity Schools from ₦45,000 to ₦100,000 per term, representing an over 120% increase. Similarly, the Lagos State Government announced that boarding fees for state-owned schools had been raised from ₦35,000 to ₦100,000 per term. These hikes, Falana argues, place an undue financial burden on families, especially those who earn the national minimum wage of ₦70,000 per month.
“At N70,000 minimum wage, the salary of a worker per term of four 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,” he said.
At the heart of Falana’s argument is the violation of the Child’s Rights Act and the Lagos State Child’s Rights Law, which guarantee free and compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school. According to Falana, these laws make the imposition of such prohibitive fees illegal, especially for students in junior secondary school. He pointed out that the fee hikes contradict the government’s commitment to free education and are inconsistent with the economic reality for most Nigerians.
Legal Challenge on the Horizon
Falana has vowed to challenge the legality of these fees in court. He stated that his legal team is prepared to file a lawsuit in the appropriate High Court to reverse the fee hikes and hold the governments accountable for violating the educational rights of Nigerian children.
“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,” he said in his argument.
In addition to challenging the fees, Falana expressed concern about the misuse of public funds. He pointed out that over ₦45 billion in federal funds earmarked for the Universal Basic Education (UBE) program between 2020 and 2023 had not been accessed by several state governments. This, he said, underscores the negligence of governments that claim to be unable to fund public education, yet leave vital resources untapped.
Government and Public Reactions
Both the Federal and Lagos State Governments have defended their decisions to increase school fees, citing economic challenges and the need to improve the quality of education. The Lagos State Ministry of Education argued that the previous fee structure of ₦35,000 per term for boarding schools had become unsustainable in the face of rising food costs and inflation. According to the Ministry, the increase in boarding fees was necessary to ensure the continued welfare and well-being of students in state-run schools.
Despite these justifications, the fee hike has ignited protests from parents, especially in Lagos. Many parents have voiced their frustration, organizing demonstrations to demand an immediate reversal of the fee hike. Some have declared that their children would not return to school until the fees are reduced. They argue that the economic pressures faced by Nigerian families, particularly in light of the ongoing subsidy removal and inflation, make the increase unaffordable.
