Femi Falana Opposes Fee Hikes in Unity and Lagos State Schools, Calls for Legal Action

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has expressed strong opposition to the recent increases in school fees implemented by both the Federal and Lagos State governments, calling the changes unlawful and in violation of children's rights.

In July 2023, the federal government raised fees for Unity Schools from N45,000 to N100,000 per term, an increase of more than 120%. Over the weekend, the Lagos State Government followed suit by raising the tuition for state-owned boarding schools from N30,000 to N100,000.

Falana, citing the Child’s Rights Law, criticized these increases, noting that they place an undue burden on families, especially workers who earn the minimum wage.

"The federal government has increased the 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 set fees in all secondary schools at N100,000 per term, or N300,000 per annum for each student," Falana said.

He further explained that the rise in fees now exceeds the minimum wage, making it nearly impossible for a worker to afford the cost of sending just one child to these schools.

"At N70,000 minimum wage, the salary of a worker per term (four months) is N28,000. The implication is that a worker can no longer sponsor even one child in Unity Schools or any secondary school in Lagos State," he added.

Falana emphasized that the Child’s Rights Act and Lagos State Child’s Rights Law guarantee free and compulsory education for every child from primary to junior secondary school. He argued that imposing such high fees on junior secondary students in Unity Schools and Lagos State schools is illegal.

“Given the clear provisions of the Child’s Rights Laws applicable in all the 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 Court,” he assured.