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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.
Nigerian Politician and Human Rights Activist, Omoyele Sowore shows up to defend and support the NYSC corp member that has been threatened.
It can be recalled that a viral video has made its way to the country. A young lady who is serving the country laments about the government and President.
The viral video also gained the attention of NYSC, resulting to messaging the corp member. The message ordered the removal of the video and for the lady to report the office on 17th of March, 2025.
However fellow Nigerians and activists have spoken out and called to defend the Corp member against any official threat.
It was reported that Sowore arrived to the local government of the corp member to showcase support in handling the case.
Omoyele Sowore and some activists, including lawyers, accompanied Ushie Uguamaye, a Lagos-based National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member known as Raye, to meet with her Local Government Inspector (LGI) after she was summoned over a viral video.
Raye recently gained attention after she criticized President Bola Tinubu’s administration in a TikTok video posted under her handle #talktoraye. In the video, she expressed frustration over Nigeria’s worsening economic situation and blamed Tinubu for the country’s struggles, even calling him a “terrible leader.”
Shortly after her comments went viral, Raye claimed that NYSC officials had started threatening her. As a result, she was called to appear at the LGI’s office on Monday for questioning.
On Monday, Sowore, alongside several lawyers, including Festus Ogun, Yinka Oyesomi, and Justice Ojienoh, accompanied Raye to the office to support her. However, according to Sowore, the NYSC officials were nowhere to be found. He shared on his X handle that the LGI failed to show up despite Raye being scheduled to appear.
In a recent development, former Anambra State Governor and 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has voiced strong support for National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member Ushie Rita Uguamaye, also known as Raye.
Raye recently gained attention after posting a TikTok video expressing her frustrations over the rising cost of living in Nigeria. In the video, she tearfully stated the increasing prices of goods and services, questioning the current administration’s efforts to address these economic challenges.
Following the video’s circulation, Raye alleged that she received threats from NYSC officials, pressuring her to remove the content and cautioning her against making political statements online.
Peter Obi took to his official X (formerly Twitter) account to condemn these alleged threats, stating that such actions are antithetical to the principles of democracy. He emphasized that silencing citizens reflects a corrupt and undemocratic government.
Obi also shared his personal experiences of facing intimidation and harassment for offering constructive criticism of government policies.
Obi called on the current administration to reflect deeply on its approach to dissent, underscoring that constructive criticism is a cornerstone of democratic progress.
He urged Nigerians to stand firm and continue advocating for a nation where freedom of speech is upheld, and leadership remains accountable, especially in critical areas like education, healthcare, and poverty alleviation.
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