Edo Private School Owners Protest Over ‘Outrageous’ Tax Hike.
Private school owners in Edo State took to the streets of Benin City on Friday in a peaceful demonstration against what they described as an “outrageous” increase in income taxes imposed by the state government.
Operating under the Coalition of Associations of Private Schools (CAPS), the proprietors—carrying placards and banners—gathered in front of the Ministry of Education to voice their concerns. The coalition includes the Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON), the Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED), the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), and the Association of Model Islamic Schools.
The protesters urged the state government to reverse a tax policy that they claim has resulted in tax rates rising by between 200 and 4,000 percent.
Dr Ohis-Olakhe Emmanuel, Chairman of the coalition, who led the protest, said the tax increase was punitive and posed a serious threat to the sustainability of the education sector in the state.
“Private schools are not only complementing government efforts in the education sector, but we are also significant employers of labour,” Dr Emmanuel stated. “With this increase, over 300,000 teachers risk losing their jobs—not to mention the countless vendors and service providers who depend on schools for their livelihood.”
He expressed disappointment that repeated attempts at dialogue with the government had failed, leaving school owners with no option but to take their concerns to the streets.
The coalition also condemned the government’s new tax calculation method, which is based on a flat estimate of ₦30,000 to ₦35,000 per student, regardless of a school’s actual fee structure.
“Many schools charge well below that amount,” Dr Emmanuel noted. “Taxation should be based on profit, not gross income, especially when operational costs are not taken into account.”
The protesting educators are now calling on the Edo State Government to review its tax policy in a way that supports education development, rather than stifling it.
