Private school owners in Edo State staged a peaceful protest in Benin on Friday over what they described as an “alarming increase” in personal income taxes imposed by the state government.
The protest, led by the Coalition of Associations of Private Schools (CAPS), saw school proprietors holding placards and banners outside the Ministry of Education. CAPS, which comprises the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), the Association of Formidable Education Development (AFED), the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), and the Association of Islamic Model Schools, expressed strong discontent with the tax hike.
The protestors called on the state government to reverse the tax increase, which they claimed ranged from 200 to 4000 percent, describing it as punitive and unsustainable. Dr. Ohis-Olakhe Emmanuel, Chairman of CAPS, explained that the group had exhausted all avenues for dialogue before resorting to protest.
“Private schools not only complement government efforts in the education sector but are also major employers of labour. With this increase, over 300,000 teachers are at risk of losing their jobs, along with the vendors and service providers who depend on schools for their livelihoods,” Emmanuel said.
He criticized the tax computation method, which is based on a per-student estimate of N30,000 to N35,000, despite many schools charging far less. Emmanuel argued that taxes should be based on profit rather than gross income, taking into account operational expenses.
Dr. Austin Igbasan, Secretary of CAPS, warned that the tax increase would have far-reaching consequences, including school closures, job losses, and an increase in the number of out-of-school children, especially among low-income families.
Mr. Oladele Ogundele, Secretary of AFED, also voiced concerns over multiple levies imposed on schools, including personal income tax, PAYE for staff, renewal fees, environmental and health certificates, signage fees, and tenement rates. He called for a harmonized tax regime for school proprietors, emphasizing that education should be supported, not taxed into extinction.
“The Nigerian Constitution and the Universal Basic Education Act emphasize free and compulsory education. This level of taxation contradicts that principle,” Ogundele said.
In response, Edo Commissioner for Education Mr. Paddy Iyamu assured the protestors that the government would review their concerns. He promised to convene a meeting with the Edo Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) to address the issues raised.
“Taxes are necessary for the government to meet its obligations, but we will ensure that schools are not overburdened,” Iyamu said. He also urged schools falling short of minimum standards to take corrective actions, warning that the government would begin strict enforcement soon.
(NAN)