Kamarudeen Ogundele, Ado Ekiti

Private schools in Ekiti State on Monday began a three-day strike to protest against 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.

Government, however, in a circular from the Ministry of Education, extended the development levy to private schools.

But the National Association of Proprietors and Proprietress of Private Schools in Ekiti 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 government.

Adeleye wondered why the government extended the levy to private schools that enjoyed no benefit from 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.

“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 with taxes. Even during the outbreak of the deadly disease-Ebola-no kit was given to us.

“We call on the ministry to withdraw forthwith all the circular letters relating to payment of the newly I traduced development levy in private schools in the state and/or any other development levy.”

NAPPS also appealed to the governor to look into the unwieldy and/or uncoordinated nature and the arbitrariness and/or un lawfulness of the assessments of other fees currently being paid by their members.

http://www.punchng.com/ekiti-private-schools-shut-to-resist-fayoses-policy/

Kpomo governor...ekiti people ..enjoy what you chose!!

As a matter of fact, there are many more! I dont understand why Alhaji listed only these few.
Anyway, that is that.