Lagos NDC candidate promises free education and healthcare

Funso Doherty, the Nigeria Democratic Congress candidate for governor of Lagos, has promised free public education, textbooks and examination fees during the first 100 days of an administration led by him. Doherty made the pledge at a special town hall meeting organised by The Platform, a thought leadership initiative of The Covenant Nation in Lagos. He said the proposed education package would include one nutritious meal for every child in a public school.

He also promised free transport to school for public-school pupils who needed it. Doherty said the measures were intended to ensure that no child was denied education. The source material does not provide the projected cost of the programme or explain how it would be financed.

The candidate also promised what he described as entirely free healthcare, including maternal and child healthcare. No further details were given on eligibility, delivery or implementation. On housing, Doherty said Lagos needed a large-scale increase in supply rather than smaller projects of a few hundred units.

He said his proposed administration would deliver about 150,000 housing units during its first term. He attributed the housing challenge to supply failing to keep pace with demand. The source material does not specify where the units would be built, their expected cost or the proposed funding arrangements.

The promises were made ahead of the 2027 Lagos governorship election. The report does not include responses from rival candidates or an assessment of the feasibility of the proposals.