BY OSABUOHIEN VIVIAN ROSE
Owners of private schools in Edo State, a branch of the Coalition of Associations of Private Schools (CAPS), on Friday staged a peaceful protest in Benin City over an alleged hike in personal income tax.
The protest, which took place at the premises of the Edo State Ministry of Education, had protesters raising placards and banners demanding a reversal of what they described as an outrageous tax increase from 200% to 400%.
CAPS comprises several educational bodies, 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.
CAPS Chairman, Dr. Ohis-Olakhe Emmanuel, who led the protest, condemned the tax hike, describing it as punitive and economically damaging to the private education sector.
He said several attempts to resolve the issue through dialogue had failed, necessitating the protest.
“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 criticised the new tax policy, which he said calculates tax based on a flat rate of N30,000 to N35,000 per student, despite the fact that many schools charge significantly lower fees.
Secretary of the coalition, Dr. Austin Igbasan, echoed similar concerns, warning of a ripple effect on the education ecosystem if the tax burden isn’t reviewed.
The secretary of AFED, Mr. Oladele Ogundele, called for a uniform tax regime, citing the burden of multiple levies imposed by various government agencies.
These, he noted, include personal income tax, PAYE for staff, school renewal fees, environmental and health certifications, signage fees, tenement rates, and other charges.
Responding to the protest, the state Commissioner for Education Mr. Paddy Iyamu, assured the coalition that the state government would examine their demands.
He promised that a meeting would be convened with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service to address the concerns.
“While taxation is necessary for the government to fulfill its responsibilities, we do not intend to overburden schools,” Iyamu said.
