Kwara school owners protest multiple taxation
Members of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools in Kwara State on Thursday staged a peaceful protest over what they described as exorbitant and multiple taxation by the state Internal Revenue Service.
The group, which has about 3,000 members, marched to the Ministry of Education, Ilorin to register their grievances with the government.
The Association led by the State President of NAPPS, Dr Temitope Ajibola, said that it members rejected recent charges, levies and taxes on private school owners and businesses in the state by the KWIRS because it was exploitative.
Ajibola gave the Ministry of Education 72 hours to resolve the issue with KWIRS as WAEC registration would close on Friday, adding that various taxes imposed by KW-IRS will adversely affect WAEC registration of private school students.
“The stringent taxes will affect registration of pupils for WAEC exams as school owners will find it hard to meet up with the deadline to upload WAEC CASS which closes in 48 hours because the KWIRS refused to issue clearance except on payment.
“We can't meet up. That's why we're protesting. We are appealing to KWIRS not to pitch us against the state government”, he said.
The school proprietors said they were levied on over 11 different charges and taxes, appealing to the state government to prevail on KW-IRS to only maintain the levy on renewal fee.
He said that some of the recent charges and taxes include land charges, personal income tax, signage and advertisement fees, renewal fees on business premises, fire prevention/inspection fees, fees on school health, safety permit, pest control and fumigation certificate fees, among others.
Ajibola urged the state revenue agency to see them as partners in progress, considering the fact that they are employers of labour, saying that multiple taxation could lead to closure of many private schools in the state.
The group, which asked for urgent response from government on their appeal, said that the aggrieved parents with their students may storm the ministry on another protest on Monday, if no favourable response was received in 72 hours.
“We're employers of labour to be commended and not to be condemned. We employ 1000s of teachers which the government have no capacity to cater for. We run our schools with loan and we're not rich people. Many of us are running at a loss. We are in need of government assistance. We are even finding it hard to pay teachers. Kwara State is a civil service economy. Many parents pay after salary payment”, he said.
Addressing the school owners, the Director, Quality Assurance Bureau, Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Mrs Ade Aboyeji, commended the school proprietors for their peaceful and mature conduct.
She also promised to inform the appropriate quarters about their grievances.
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Mansur Alfanla Abdulfatai Baakini Ballah Ophthalmological Society Of Nigeria Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa Alanamu Abdulwasiu Bolaji Adeyi Dasuki Belgore Deji Ajani Mohammed Halidu Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu Mohammed Yahaya Barki Salaudeen Oyewale Anilelerin Ibrahim Abikan Kudirat Arinola Lawal Sango-UITH Road Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim Kale Belgore Baba Issa Awoye Emir Of Yashikira Principal Private Secretary Abdulfatah Ahmed Muhammad Akande Olarewaju Odunade Nigeria Governors\' Forum Valsolar Omoniyi M. Ayinla Kwara State Fire Service Lawal Olohungbebe Ahmed Saidu Rufai Valsolar Consultoria Shonga Opaleke Bukola Iyabo Olayinka Are S.O. Opowoye Kwara-SAPZ Project ER-KANG Balikis Jawondo Alabere Suleiman Ajadi Madawaki Of Ilorin Sambo Murtala Patience Jonathan Baboko Segun Abifarin KwaraLearn Afusat Nike Ibrahim Col. Taiwo Ado Bayero Niguel Gallando Marcias Emmanuel Bello Abubakar Baba Sulaiman Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Modupe Oluwole IF-K Abdul Jimoh Mohammed Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa Saliu Ajia Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations Mubarak Oladosu Ilorin Amusement Park General Hospital, Offa Akorede IPSAS Baba Idris Olaitan Buraimoh Olubukola Kifayat Adedeji Ibrahim Abdulkadir Abikan Sobi FM Hikmah AbdulKareem Mohammed Abdulahi Sarah Jubril Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd Afonja Usman Yunusa Oja-Oba

