Tax Reforms Targeting Destruction Of Public Tertiary Institutions In Nigeria – COEASU
BY NGOZI NWANKWO, ABUJA – Colleges of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU), on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, declared that the proposed Tax Reforms are nothing but dangerous ambush aimed at destroying public tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
This was as it said that without prejudice to the potential strengths of the proposed tax administration law in expanding the tax base and reinforcing compliance towards economic stimulation, the Reforms is an attack on TETFund which is tantamount to an attack on public tertiary education.
COEASU said it suspected a clandestine attempt by the elitist political class to completely destroy public tertiary institutions in order to pave way for their capitalistic privately owned institutions to thrive, just the same way public primary and secondary schools were left to decay to pave way for private schools only the rich could afford.
These were contained in a statement by Dr. Smart Olugbeko, President of COEASU, in which the Union announced its rejection of the aspects of the proposed tax administration which aims to withdraw or impede on the source of fund to Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), stressing that such an injury, if allowed to stand, is bound to undermine the development of public tertiary education in Nigeria.
The union expressed worry that Nigeria government has not shown serious concern for education and has willfully destroyed public institutions through its policy somersault and lack of commitment to Education.
Olugbeko said; “It is shocking to note that no Nigeria government in the last two decades or more has committed up to 9% of the annual budget to Education despite the UNESCO recommendation that 26% of the annual budget be dedicated to education.
“The aspect of the Tax reform that allowed Tetfund to be stiffled of its source of fund will gradually drag tertiary institutions into the stock market making them become capitalistic ventures for the highest bidders,” he said.
COEASU noted that TETFund was a brainchild of the struggles of academic staff unions in tertiary institutions led by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), adding that prior to the establishment of Tetfund, infrastructure in tertiary institutions were in shambles just as government of Nigeria became clueless on the way forward until the Academic Staff Union came up with a brilliant idea of a Trust Fund for the education sector.
It further said; “Except for TETFund which has become the spine and lifeblood of public tertiary education funding, Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics and Colleges of Education would have gone comatose.
“TETFund has been playing indispensable and exclusively vital role in the development of tertiary institutions in Nigeria, providing funding for infrastructure, research, teaching and learning facilities as well as staff development.
“Despite the pervading corruption in the country and administrative inefficiency of many government parastatals and agencies, TETFund is one of the best run government establishments in Nigeria with a highly innovative, resourceful, efficient management and well dedicated staff.
“TETFund has been discharging its responsibilities efficiently and has been the only reason why many public tertiary institutions are still functioning.
“Rather than killing TETFund through the purported tax reform, the FG should strengthen and expand its revenue accrual sources with a view to sustaining the Fund’s commendable efforts in our institutions. COEASU calls on all stakeholders on education including students, parents, educators, the civil society and all people of goodwill to join us in rejecting this backward proposal in order to save public tertiary education in Nigeria,” Olugbeko said.
.”
