Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah, has imposed a hefty education tax on private schools, demanding payments ranging from N1 million to N5 million.
This financial mandate, according to reports, comes at a time when many are grappling with economic hardships, raising concerns among educators and parents alike.
Sources reveal that the tax is stratified based on the level of education offered by the institutions.
Private primary schools are required to pay N1 million, while those offering both primary and secondary education face a staggering N5 million tax.
The directive insists on payment within three weeks of the 2024/2025 academic year’s commencement this September.
Traditionally, educational taxes levied on private schools were student-based, capped at N300 per student. However, the new policy disregards student enrollment numbers, compelling schools to meet the tax demands irrespective of their financial capacity.
One source said, “But currently, the government doesn’t want to know whether you have the number of students to cover the money or not.”
In response, several private school administrators have already begun notifying parents about the governor’s tax imposition through social media platforms.
A message shared with SaharaReporters read, “Dear parents, my compliments to you all, the governor of Enugu state has given all private schools compulsory tax of N1 million non-negotiable. Pls try and pay your children’s school fees, alongside with their textbooks, because they will start coming for fees drive, the moment school reopens.”
The expansion of private schools in Enugu can be traced to deficiencies within the public school system, including inadequate teaching staff and deteriorating infrastructure.
A veteran teacher, speaking anonymously, noted, “Lack of teachers, poor structures, and security were the reasons there were proliferation of private schools in the state, which as we speak has not been addressed.”
The teacher criticized Governor Mbah’s approach, arguing that instead of addressing these systemic issues by hiring teachers and upgrading public school facilities, the administration has focused on constructing grandiose “smart schools” as a means of revenue generation.
Despite previous reports highlighting the dire conditions at institutions like Emene Community High School, where classroom overcrowding is rampant, the government has yet to take meaningful action to alleviate these challenges. Efforts to reach the State Commissioner of Education, Prof Ndubueze Mbah, for comments were unsuccessful, as he did not respond to calls or messages.
