FCT: Private School Owners Lament Excessive Taxes

Some private school owners in the Federal Character Territory (FCT) have lamented the incessant taxes and dues levied on them by the government.

The school owners shared their experiences at the Africa Global Education Forum, hosted by Lost Hope Regainer Foundation Ministry on Monday in Abuja.

Mrs Peace Iheama, President, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) chapter, explained that educators in the private sector contributed immensely in promoting the quality of education and therefore should not be levied heavily.

She listed some of the levies to include loading and offloading fees for school buses, levies for school stickers and sanitary inspectors.

Mrs Iheama said the association has engaged legislators to look into the taxes and levies, noting that it was crippling the private school sector.

Another proprietor, Mr Innocent Agu urged government to reduce levies on private schools to create an enabling environment for education to thrive.

”There are a lot of taxes that are bothering private schools such as federal housing funds and council environment inspection levies which run into thousands of Naira.

”Government should support and see private schools as partners in progress and not as a profit-making venture because a greater number of Nigerian children are in private schools.

”We are big stakeholders in national development and are asking that these taxes be reduced and that we be seen as partners in education,” he said.

Convener of the forum, Pastor Greatness Oladapo urged both government and private investors to increase funding for the education sector.

He urged stakeholders to look inwards in proffering solutions for the sector and ensure that quality education is prioritised in the country. (NAN)