Court Orders FG, States to Provide Free Basic Education

A Federal High Court in Lagos has declared that the Federal Government, all 36 states, and the Federal Capital Territory must provide free, compulsory, and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age in Nigeria.

The ruling followed a lawsuit filed by human-rights lawyers and advocacy groups, stressing that access to basic education is a fundamental right that every level of government must guarantee.

The court noted that the Universal Basic Education Act obliges all governments to ensure that basic education is free. It also clarified that while states may decide whether to take advantage of the Federal Government’s matching grants, choosing not to participate does not automatically violate the law.

States that opt to receive Federal grants are required to provide the corresponding funding before accessing the money.

The judgment further confirmed that public-interest organizations can challenge governments in court to enforce social and constitutional rights, even without being directly affected.