Members of the National Association of Proprietors for Private Schools (NAPPS) in Kwara state on today staged a peaceful protest over what they called exorbitant and multiple taxation by the state Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS)
The group, which has about 3,000 members, marched to the ministry of Education, Ilorin to register their grievance with a view to get favourable response and review from the appropriate quarters.
The people, led by the NAPPS state president, Dr. Temitope Ajibola, rejected recent charges, levies and taxes on private school owners and businesses in the state by the KWIRS, described it as exploitation.
Dr. Ajibola, who frown that the levies charged by the KWIRS, gave however gave the ministry of education 72 hours ultimatum to resolve the issue with KWIRS as WEAC registration will close tomorrow. KWIRS tax will adversely affect WAEC registration of private school students.
According to NAPPS, the stringent taxes would affect registration of pupils for WAEC exams as school owners would 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.
NAPPS appealed to KWIRS not to pitch us against the state government.
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.
Dr. Ajibola urged the state revenue agency to see schools 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.
Addressing the school owners, the Director, Quality Assurance Bureau, Kwara state ministry of Education, Mrs. Ade Aboyeji, commended the people for their peaceful and mature conduct l, promised to get their areas of grievance known to appropriate quarters. She added that government and private schools have always worked together.
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