Renowned human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has underscored Nigeria’s abundant resources and its capability to provide free education across all educational levels for its citizens.
Falana made these remarks during a public event hosted by the Revolutionary Socialist Movement and the Save Public Education Campaign in Abuja on Saturday.
He emphasized that the realization of free education and other essential social services hinges on the democratic management and control of the nation’s resources.
The event’s theme, “Nigeria at 63: Prospects for the Working Masses in the Bola Ahmed Tinubu Administration,” with a subtopic addressing the public education crisis, sparked Falana’s call to action.
Falana stressed the importance of monitoring the resources allocated to Nigerian universities and the equitable distribution of revenue among state and local governments.
He critiqued the government’s incremental palliative measures, asserting that the federal government could afford significant allocations for National Assembly members, encompassing funding for cars, allowances, renovations, and miscellaneous projects.
Additionally, Falana lamented that the Nigerian constitution did not permit legislators to allocate funds for miscellaneous projects, highlighting that it was the executive’s responsibility to implement concrete projects.
He asserted, “Today, legislators are receiving substantial sums under the guise of miscellaneous projects, yet no tangible developments are seen. The Nigerian constitution guarantees free education at all levels.”
Falana rallied students to revive the tradition of advocating for their rights and vehemently oppose the recent surge in tuition fees. He condemned fee hikes across Nigerian universities.
Bob Agnes, the Federal Capital Territory chairman of the Africa Action Congress, underscored the persisting issue of police brutality nationwide. He pointed out that police officers now carry POS machines and execute arbitrary arrests of innocent youth across the nation. Agnes called upon Nigerians to unite in defense of their rights.
Dammy Owot, the secretary of the Workers and Youth Solidarity Network, voiced concerns about the new fee structure, warning that it would force many students from low-income and working-class families out of school. He called on Nigerian students to mobilize and resist this move, refuting the government’s claim of insufficient resources for education funding.
