Highlights: Legal Action for Enforcing Free Education in Nigeria

Source: https://saharareporters.com/

• Parties Involved: Femi Falana, SAN, Hauwa Mustapha, and the Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond have filed a lawsuit against the Nigerian Education Minister, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and the Attorneys General of the 36 states.
• Legal Basis: The suit, filed at the Federal High Court in Lagos, is grounded in the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. It demands that the named respondents fulfill their statutory obligations to provide free and compulsory education to every Nigerian child of primary and junior secondary school age.
• Specific Demands:
  • The plaintiffs are seeking a court order for the respondents to pay their counterpart funds to access a matching grant of N68 billion in the Universal Basic Education Fund.
  • They request declarations that the failure to provide free, compulsory universal basic education or to access the N68 billion fund for this purpose is illegal and violates the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act.
• Rationale: The lawsuit highlights the dire state of education in Nigeria, referencing a UNICEF report estimating 20.2 million out-of-school children in the country, the highest number globally. It emphasizes the government’s responsibility to enforce laws and ensure quality education.
• Objective: This legal action aims to prompt the Nigerian government at both federal and state levels to take concrete steps towards realizing the goal of universal basic education, thereby addressing the critical issue of out-of-school children and enhancing educational standards across the country.

This lawsuit represents a significant effort to hold the Nigerian government accountable for its educational obligations and to advocate for the rights of millions of children to access free and compulsory education.

Check this link for the full story https://childreninfobank.com/safebank/breaking-falana-other-sue-nigerian-education-minister-agf-fct-minister-36-state-attorneys-general-over-out-of-school-children-compulsory-free-education/