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.
Kumbi Titilope Sabi ER-KANG Mining Oya State Elese Of Igbaja Niyi Ogundiran Saliu Oluwole Kwara Coalition Of Business And Professional Associations Rihanat Ajia Issa Baba Transition Implementation Committee Y.A. Abdulkareem Rafiu Ajakaye Christopher Tunji Ayeni Budo-Egba Aliyu Kora-Sabi Balikis Jawondo Unilorin Ariyo Sa\'ad Alanamu Abdulquawiy Olododo IYA YUSUF Abdulfatai Baakini Aliyu Adebayo Ibrahim Abduquadri Abikan Bamidele Adegoke Lanre Olosunde Abubakar Kawu Baraje ASMAU PLAZA John Dara Ahmed Dankaya Javed Khan Babatunde Idiagbon Baboko Ayinde Oki Ladi Hassan Khairat Gwadabe Adeleke Ogungbe Moses Salami 2017 Budget Sabo-Oke Student Learning Support Helpline Emir Of Kano Rasaq Jimoh Assayomo Omoniyi Ayinla IFK Hydro-electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Lucky Omoluwa IF-K Roseline Oni Aremu Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye Pius Abioje Binta Abubakar-Mora Ajase-Ipo John Olobayo Hassan Oyeleke Toyin Saraki Sardauna Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa Bello Bature Emir Of Lafiagi Saliu Mustapha Abdulraufu Mustapha Metro Park Mutawali Of Ilorin Mohammed Halidu REO CAKES Sobi Specialist Hospital Amos Bajeh Segun Olawoyin Binta Abubakar Mora ARMTI Kwara State Geographic Information Service Adewuyi Funmilayo Abdulrahman Abdulrasak Ibrahim Taiwo Road

