Court declares free primary, junior secondary education compulsory
Justice John Tsoho declared that every Nigerian child has the constitutional right to free and compulsory education at these levels.
Court gavel
Recommended articles
![Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State [Twitter:@NasarawaInvest]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'100'%20height%3D'100'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State [Twitter:@NasarawaInvest]")
Justice John Tsoho declared that every Nigerian child has the constitutional right to free and compulsory education at these levels.
The judge said the federal and state governments have constitutional duties to provide adequate funds for the free education.
Failure by any government to fund free primary and junior secondary education will constitute a breach of the constitution, the court held.
ADVERTISEMENT
The judgment was in favour of a suit filed by a non-governmental organisation, Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), against the Federal Ministry of Education and the Attorney General of the Federation.
In the suit, LEDAP asked the court to determine whether by the combined effect of section 18(3)(a) of the 1999 Constitution and section 2 (1) of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act, (UBE) 2004, the right to free and compulsory primary education and free junior secondary education for all qualified Nigerian citizens are enforceable rights in Nigeria.
Justice Tsoho who relied on a 2002 decision of the Supreme Court, held that by enacting the UBE Act, the National Assembly has made the right to free and compulsory primary and free junior secondary education contained in Chapter 2 an enforceable or justiciable right.
Speaking on the judgment, the lead counsel to LEDAP, Mr Chino Obiagwu, said that the court has now given life and hope to over 28 million Nigerian children who are currently out of primary and Junior Secondary School or who are at risk of being withdrawn from school.
ADVERTISEMENT
However, Justice Tsoho's judgment means any child not enrolled in school or who is withdrawn from school can exercise his or her constitutional rights against the parent or guardian or against the government.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
PoS operators must register with CAC by July 7 - CBN
Sule set to build 3000-capacity hall for corps members to foster friendships
Excessive use of cellphones, computers can make you go blind, here's how
'Enemies of progress': Ben Bruce slams Atiku, Obi over Lagos-Calabar Highway project in viral video
House of Reps calls for truce between ASUU, University of Abuja amid strike
Entertainment executive, Artiste manager, Marjorie Fiedler to run for European Parliament
Cow crushes 2 elderly people out of nowhere — no one knows why
Nigeria’s Road to the World Cup: The journey ahead for the Super Eagles
Anambra PASAN suspends strike for 2 months as Govt addresses demands
Pulse Sports
Chelsea set to offer Romelu Lukaku and cash for Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen
Mikel Obi: Super Eagles legend goes viral speaking Hausa
Anthony Joshua: Nigerian-born boxer teams up with Mariah Carey, Naomi Campbell and Cuppy in France
ADVERTISEMENT
![Retirees demand pension increase [PM News Nigeria]](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D'http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg'%20width%3D'300'%20height%3D'172'%20data-ring-placeholder%3D'1'%3E%3C%2Fsvg%3E "Retirees demand pension increase [PM News Nigeria]")