Private
schools in Ekiti State on Monday began a three-day strike to protest the
imposition of N1,000 development levy per term on their pupils by Governor
Ayodele Fayose.
The
state government had announced N1, 000 per term as education development levy
for public secondary school pupils while those in primary schools were to pay
N500.
The
government, however, in a circular by the Ministry of Education, extended the
development levy to private schools.
But
the National Association of Proprietors and Proprietress of Private Schools in
Ekiti State contended that the extension of the levy to private schools ran
contrary to the spirit and letters of Section 42(1) (a) and (b) of the 1999
Constitution.
The
President of the association, Alhaji Saka Adeleye, while addressing journalists
in Ado Ekiti on Monday, said private schools in the state would remain shut for
three days to protest multiple taxation from the government.
Adeleye
wondered why the government extended the levy to private schools that enjoyed
no benefit from the government, despite paying 12 different taxes imposed on
them.
He
listed the taxes to include Annual Renewal Fee, Personal Income Tax, Pay As You
Earn for staff, Personal Development Fee, Registration of Business Premises
Fee, Environment Levy, Vehicle Permit fee and Tenement Rate.
The
NAPPS president added, “There is no infrastructural development to private
schools. Nothing was given to us to develop our schools; all they (government)
do is to extort us through taxes. Even during the outbreak of the deadly
disease, Ebola, no kit was given to us.
“We
use our capital to fund our schools; not even textbooks, chalks from the
government. The government distributed laptops to public schools but not one
was given to private schools. So what are we gaining?
“Even
if the government decides to reduce the development levy, we are not ready to
pay. We have made several attempts to meet the governor but all effort proved
abortive.
“We
call on the ministry to withdraw forthwith all the circular letters relating to
payment of the newly introduced development levy in private schools in the
state and/or any other development levy.”
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