Private school owners condemn multiple taxes, levies on Ogun schools

Proprietors of Nursery and Primary Schools in Ogun state have appealed to the State government to address issues of multiple taxes and levies imposed on them.

The proprietors, under the auspices of League of Muslim School Proprietors Worldwide (LEAMSP), Ogun state chapter, lamented that different government agencies disturb the smooth operations of their schools under the pretense of collection of taxes and levies.

Speaking on the multiplicity of taxes and levies being collected by government from private schools’ owners, Maruf Openiyi, State chairman of LEAMSP, who made this appeal at the 2017 Private School Managers Seminar held in Sagamu, called for the harmonisation of all levies and taxes imposed by the state government.

“Recognising our effort includes giving us moderate affordable and reasonable forms of taxation. As responsible citizens, we are not averred to paying our taxes and other levies, what we humbly request sir is that government should harmonise these never-ending varieties of taxes and levies to minimum and affordable ones.

“We humbly request for medium of dialogue between the government and various recognised associations of private schools’ operators for a joint forum as it is practised in other states, especially in Lagos state. The result of which we are certain will put smile on the faces of all parties.”

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ogun State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Sefiu Rasheed called for the collaboration of the proprietors in improving the quality of education in the state.

“It is obviously unreasonable to leave any Government irrespective of her level of willingness to single handedly shoulder the responsibilities of running and funding education because it will undoubtedly be overwhelming, respectively at this crucial moment of economic meltdown.

“This is why your roles as private school owners and school Administrators is crucial. You are but worthy collaborators, major stakeholders and co-builders of our educational block, processing our children and youth to a future engagement of constructive, sustainable national growth”, he added.