Lagos NDC gov candidate promises free education, 150,000 housing units

File Photo: Former Lagos State governorship candidate, Funso Doherty.

The Lagos State governorship candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Funso Doherty, has promised to make education genuinely free in public schools and provide 150,000 affordable housing units if elected governor in 2027.

Doherty made the promises on Sunday during the 2026 governorship debate organised by the Nigeria Debate Consortium in Lagos, where he outlined his plans to address the state’s development challenges.

He said his proposed policies were based on the belief that a society could only prosper when individuals had the opportunity and resources to improve their lives.

According to him, his administration would prioritise people-centred policies aimed at equipping residents with relevant skills and improving access to essential services.

“We have said we will make education truly free, not nominally free, truly free. So people will not pay for exam fees, they will not be asked to come and pay taxes at the point where they have to write their exams,” he said.

The NDC candidate also pledged to ensure that pupils in public schools received at least one affordable meal daily, describing education as a priority given Nigeria’s young population.

He said his administration would also focus on healthcare, job creation, support for small businesses and improvements in public transportation.

On housing, Doherty said his plan included the delivery of 150,000 affordable units, supported by funding arrangements, government guarantees and partnerships aimed at making the project achievable.

He said the proposals formed part of his broader commitment to creating opportunities for residents to earn a living, build businesses and improve their standard of living.

Earlier in his remarks, Doherty said Lagos was operating below its potential despite its substantial revenue and economic resources.

He argued that residents continued to bear a heavy tax burden without receiving corresponding improvements in public services.

“About 90%, or close to 90%, of that internally generated revenue is taxes. Taxes taken from people like you and me. So the people are definitely playing their own part. It is the government that is failing,” he said.

Doherty also criticised the state’s political leadership, saying Lagos had been governed by the same political bloc for 27 years without adequately addressing challenges in education, healthcare, housing, water supply and electricity.

He said his proposed administration would pursue six major policy areas: health; education and opportunity; affordable housing; jobs and small businesses; the environment; and honest and accountable government.

The candidate said the six themes were supported by 34 commitments contained in his manifesto, which he urged residents to scrutinise and use to hold him accountable.

Doherty, who said he had spent 30 years in the private sector, said his experience in leadership and financial management would inform his approach to governing the state.

He contested the 2023 Lagos governorship election and is seeking the state’s top political office again in 2027, this time under the NDC. The party unveiled his running mate, Tolani Animashaun, in October 2026 alongside its manifesto, titled Ọ̀nà Tuntun (The New Way).

The manifesto sets out 34 commitments across six areas, including healthcare and education, affordable housing, public transportation, jobs and small businesses, environmental services, and accountability in government.