Private school owners in Enugu State are protesting against the excessive taxes and levies imposed on them by the state government, leading to the closure of many schools. The new tax regime, which has seen a significant increase of over 2,000%, has left schools struggling to stay operational. Previously, schools paid around N30,000 annually, but now fees range from N450,000 to N2.2 million, depending on the school’s size. This drastic rise has created a financial burden for many institutions, forcing some to shut down.
Emeka Grahams, Chairman of the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria, criticized the government for ignoring their pleas to reconsider the new tax policies. He highlighted how the Enugu State Ministry of Education has raised renewal fees by 2,500%, describing it as a “manhandling” of school owners. Many schools have found it difficult to continue operating under these financial constraints.
While the government justifies these fees as part of efforts to improve education standards, including projects like the Smart School initiative, private school owners argue that the taxes are crippling their institutions rather than supporting them. Last week, the government closed several schools it deemed to have substandard facilities, further aggravating the situation for private school owners.
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Dr. Ejiofor Godwin, President of the Proprietors Association of Private Schools for the South-East zone, emphasized that these high taxes do not contribute to improving education but rather serve to burden school owners. He also pointed out that private schools contribute significantly to the state’s revenue and should be encouraged rather than stifled.
According to Godwin, school fees in private institutions are expected to rise to cover these government-imposed costs. This will likely lead to parents withdrawing their children from private schools, as public schools are not yet equipped to handle the influx of students.
Legal counsel for the school owners, Mr. Ogbuka JMCC, added that under Nigerian law, private schools should not be taxed, as education is supposed to be compulsory and free under Section 18 of the Constitution. He argues that the government is violating these legal provisions in its drive to generate revenue.
Private school owners are calling for at least a three-year grace period to improve their facilities and the removal of uniform fees, suggesting that charges should be based on the financial strength and location of each school. Despite their efforts, they report that the government has remained unresponsive to their requests.
