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Falana Slams FG, Lagos Over Illegal N100,000 School Fee Hike
Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has strongly criticized the recent school fee hikes implemented by both the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government, labelling the increases as unlawful.
Falana voiced his concerns after the Federal Government raised the fees for Unity Schools from N45,000 to N100,000 per term, marking a steep rise of over 120%.
Similarly, Lagos State announced a new fee of N100,000 per term for its state-owned boarding schools, up from the previous N35,000.
Falana condemned the moves, arguing that they violate the Child’s Rights Law, which guarantees free and compulsory education for every child from primary through junior secondary school.
He emphasized that these fee increases are particularly burdensome for families, especially when compared to the current minimum wage of N70,000.
According to Falana, under this wage structure, a worker earning N70,000 a month would only receive N28,000 in a typical four-month school term, making it impossible to afford the new fees for even one child in a Unity School or any secondary school in Lagos.
He pointed out that the total annual cost for a child attending a Unity School would now be N300,000, an amount far beyond the reach of many Nigerian families.
Falana argued that the imposition of such fees contradicts the provisions outlined in the Child’s Rights Act as well as Lagos State’s Child’s Rights Law.
He highlighted that these laws ensure free education, particularly for children in junior secondary schools, making the imposition of N100,000 fees on such students illegal.
Falana further announced his intention to challenge these fee hikes in court. He asserted that, given the clear mandates in both the federal and state Child’s Rights Laws, the decision to impose these fees would not stand up to legal scrutiny.
He vowed to take the matter to the appropriate High Court to have the increases overturned.
The lawyer’s stance comes as families across Nigeria express growing concerns over the affordability of education amidst the economic challenges facing the country.
Falana’s legal challenge could set a significant precedent for how education costs are regulated in Nigeria, especially in terms of access to affordable schooling for children from less privileged backgrounds.
Many are watching closely to see how the courts will respond to this case, as it could have far-reaching implications for education policy and the rights of Nigerian students.
As the debate over education fees continues, Falana’s efforts to challenge the legality of the hikes are expected to draw attention to the broader issue of educational accessibility in the country.
His firm stance against what he considers an unjust and illegal burden on families underscores the growing call for affordable education for all Nigerian children.
Candidates scheduled to retake the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) will start receiving text messages from today, Thursday. A total of 379,997 candidates across five South East states and Lagos are expected to resit the exam. JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, confirmed this during a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday.
He explained that 206,610 candidates in 65 centers in Lagos and 173,387 candidates across 92 centers in the Owerri zone of the South East were affected. Oloyede took full responsibility for what he described as a “sabotage” of the UTME and apologized to the candidates. Out of the 1.9 million who sat for the exam, more than 1.5 million scored below 200 out of a possible 400 marks.
A lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Christian Okeke, has called on the JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, to go beyond shedding tears and take full accountability by resigning from his position.
This comes after JAMB admitted to technical issues during the 2025 UTME. Okeke criticized the decision to have candidates in some centers rewrite the exam, describing it as unfair and emotionally distressing. He insisted that only the release of the original results can truly correct the situation.
According to him, JAMB initially defended the poor outcomes, where over 1.5 million candidates scored below 200, claiming it reflected their academic ability. He argued that it took public outcry and pressure from stakeholders before the board acknowledged its failures.
He described Oloyede’s emotional apology as insufficient, saying, “Tears won’t fix the damage. His resignation is the next responsible step.” Okeke also condemned the planned resit for candidates in 65 Lagos centers and 92 across the South East, calling it an inconsiderate move that shows a lack of empathy for the affected students and their families.
Activist and president of the North Central Youth Council, Sunday Asuku, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider replacing Vice President Kashim Shettima with a Christian candidate in the 2027 general election.
In a statement on Monday, Asuku stressed that Tinubu’s choice of vice president could make or break his chances for re-election. He argued that selecting a Christian vice president would not only be symbolic but also a strategic and unifying move for Nigeria’s democracy.
Asuku mentioned that the 2027 elections will be a crucial test of Nigeria’s commitment to unity and inclusivity. He pointed out that the Muslim-Muslim ticket in the 2023 elections created division, and that addressing this imbalance with a Christian running mate would help strengthen national cohesion.
He went on to say that religious balance in leadership is still a vital necessity in Nigeria’s diverse society. “Tinubu has a chance to correct the mistake of 2023 and make a strong statement of inclusion. This opportunity should not be missed,” Asuku said.
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