A pupil of Divine Academy in Ekiti state, Amidat Akingbolu, has sued the Ekiti state governor, Ayo Fayose for imposing N1, 000 and N500 for pupils of private schools and public schools, respectively.
She is seeking a determination of the Court on whether the Ekiti state government is under legal obligation to provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary age under the unambiguous provisions of the Free Universal Basic Education and Child Rights Law of Ekiti state.
She augured that Ekiti state government had provided free primary school education since 1955 when the policy was introduced by the Obafemi Awolowo-led administration.
But, Fayose abolished and imposed fee on pupils in both private and public schools.
Although the case is yet to be assigned by the Chief Judge, Aminat is challenging the decision of the government and her counsel, Kabir Akingbolu, said the “policy contravenes section 2(1) of the Free Universal Basic Education Act of 2004, and Section 15 of the Child Rights Law of Ekiti state. The Catholic diocese of Ekiti state has also approached the court to cancel the policy.
