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.