The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has dragged the Federal Government and the management of Queens College to UN over the recent deaths of three students in the schools.
In a statement on Tuesday by its Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, SERAP said it petitioned four UN special rapporteurs urging them to use their “good offices and mandates to urgently request the Nigerian government and the authorities at Queen’s College, Lagos to end continuing suffering of students, and ensure justice and effective remedies for the unnecessary loss of lives of three pupils of the school.”
In a petition dated 19 June, the organisation expressed “serious concern that alleged corruption by the leadership of the school has ruined the lives of several pupils, and squandered their potential for personal development. These girls have depended on the integrity of the authorities both at the Federal Ministry of Education and the school levels but have been badly let down by those entrusted with the power to provide them with access to quality education in a safe environment.”
“The apparent failure to exercise due diligence and to fulfil the obligations to respect, protect, promote and fulfil the right of these girls to quality education is buttressed by the fact that the school management repeatedly ignored early warnings and complaints from students and parents, the failure to improve facilities and conditions in the school, and the alleged demand of illegal fees and bribes from parents by the school authorities.”
The petition was also copied to Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
