Title: “Towards a 60% increase in fees for law graduates at the Nigeria Law School for the 2023/2024 session”
The Council for Legal Education recently approved a 60% hike in fees for law graduates seeking to enroll at the Nigeria Law School, raising the fee from ₦296,000 to ₦476,000 for the 2023/2024 academic session at the Bar.
In response to this development, the House adopted a motion by the Leader of the Opposition, Kingsley Chinda, read on his behalf by Ginger Owusibe. MEPs asked their Justice and Higher Education committees to look for solutions to this problem and report back within two weeks.
Chinda highlighted the importance of the Nigeria Law School as the organ through which the Legal Education Council regulates the education of law, explaining that the council is responsible for determining tuition costs and fees. other services.
He highlighted Nigeria’s current inflation rate of 27.33%, as reported by the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics, and expressed concerns over the lack of time left for prospective students to raise the increased tuition fees. for the current academic session.
This fee hike decision could have a significant impact on prospective law students and raises legitimate concerns about the accessibility of legal education in Nigeria. It is essential that the Government examines this issue closely to ensure that students still have the opportunity to access quality legal education without facing excessive financial barriers.
It is crucial to strike a balance between ensuring the financial viability of the Nigeria Law School and ensuring that students, regardless of their financial circumstances, can pursue their studies in law and contribute meaningfully to society. Dialogue and the search for alternative solutions are essential to achieve a balanced consensus that will benefit all stakeholders involved.