Lagos Boarding School Fee Increment is Illegal – Human Rights Lawyer Falana

Human Rights Lawyer Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, has condemned the recent increase in boarding school fees made by the Lagos State government.

This defying expression was reportedly disclosed on Saturday by Falana, describing the move as “illegal” as it contravenes the Child Rights Act and Lagos State Child Rights Law.

This was in response to the earlier report indicating a new fee imposed by the state government from ₦35,000 to ₦100,000 as the new boarding school fee per term for public schools in the state.

Falana argued that with the increase above the current minimum wage of ₦70,000, “a worker can no longer sponsor even one child either in the Unity School or any secondary school in Lagos State.”

Under the Child’s Rights Act and Lagos State Child’s Rights Law, every child is entitled to free & compulsory education from primary to junior secondary school. To that extent, the imposition of a ₦100,000 fee on students in junior secondary schools in Unity Schools and secondary schools Lagos State is illegal,” he wrote.

“In view of the clear provisions of the Child’s Rights Laws applicable in all 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 Courts,” Falana stated.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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Mayowa Durosinmi is a Nigerian investigative reporter for West Africa Weekly with reports focusing on politics, human rights, security and health in West Africa and the Sahel region.

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