Private school proprietors in Edo State, under the banner of the Coalition of Associations of Private Schools (CAPS), held a peaceful protest in Benin City on Friday to oppose a reported increase in personal income tax.
The demonstration, which took place at the Edo State Ministry of Education, saw participants carrying placards and banners demanding a reversal of what they called an excessive tax hike, allegedly ranging from 200% to 400%.
CAPS is made up of various educational organizations, including the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria, the Association for Formidable Education Development, the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools, and the Association of Model Islamic Schools.
Dr. Ohis-Olakhe Emmanuel, the CAPS Chairman who led the protest, criticized the tax increase as harsh and harmful to the private education sector, stating that several attempts at dialogue with authorities had failed, leading them to take to the streets.
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“Private schools are not only complementing government efforts in the education sector, but are also major employers of labour.
“With this increase, over 300,000 teachers risk losing their jobs, not to mention the countless vendors and service providers who depend on schools for survival,” Emmanuel stated.
He slammed the new tax policy, stating it imposes a flat rate of N30,000 to N35,000 per student, regardless of the fact that many schools charge far less in tuition fees.
The coalition’s secretary, Dr. Austin Igbasan, shared similar worries, cautioning that the unreviewed tax hike could trigger negative consequences throughout the education sector.
Mr. Oladele Ogundele, Secretary of the Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED), called for a standardized tax system, highlighting the strain caused by numerous levies from different government bodies.
These, he explained, include personal income tax, staff PAYE, school renewal fees, environmental and health permits, signage charges, tenement rates, and various other fees.
In response to the protest, the state Commissioner for Education, Mr. Paddy Iyamu, assured the group that their grievances would be considered. He pledged to facilitate a meeting with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service to address the issues raised.
“While taxation is necessary for the government to fulfill its responsibilities, we do not intend to overburden schools,” Iyamu said.
He also advised owners of substandard schools to upgrade their facilities, warning that the state government would soon implement stricter regulatory enforcement.
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