… maintains stance on assessing personal income of schools proprietors, grants soft landing…
…extends schools examination registration by two weeks
The Executive Chairman, Hon (Barr) Oladele Bankole-Balogun ably represented by the Executive Director Income Taxes, Hon. Akhimien Patrick Idiake alongside Commissioner for Education Hon. (Dr.) Paddy Iyamu on Tuesday 15th April, 2025 met with members of the Coalition of Private School owners at the EIRS Corporate Headquarters.
The meeting was necessitated following the alleged misconception by the coalition of private school owners who recently protested to the Ministry of Education over an alleged taxing of their schools.
In his remarks, Hon. Idiake expressed his concerns over the recent activities of the coalition while debunking the claims that the Revenue Service is taxing private schools.
He stated: “That EIRS did not tax schools but the owners who are proprietors. What the Revenue Service has done, is to follow the letters of the tax Law by taxing the income of the owners of private schools in Edo State. This we all know as personal income tax.
He informed members of the coalition that where any of the members disagree with the assessment, the same law gives them the opportunity of objection in writing while stating that the EIRS will look at those objections individually based on their merits and address their concerns where necessary.
Speaking further, the EIRS Executive Director informed that the EIRS had proactively granted the request of school proprietors the opportunity to proceed with the payment of ten percent (10%) of the total tax assessed while the objection process is ongoing”.
He added “The Senator Monday Okpebholo led administration is a listening government, we are not taxing the poor, we want to encourage schools and businesses in the State.”
Speaking on behalf of the coalition, Dr. Oyakhire commended the moves by the EIRS and the Education Ministry in the roles played at reducing their tax burden. He however appealed to the Revenue Service to take cognizance of the prevailing economic situation to address their plight particularly issues of multiple levies from government MDAs and Local Government Councils.
Earlier, the visiting Commissioner of Education, Hon. (Dr.) Paddy Iyamu commended the swift response of the EIRS in addressing the issues.
He reassured that the Senator Monday Okpebholo led administration is ready to support and ensure businesses in Edo State grow and thrive in a conducive environment, stressing the need for all businesses individuals and entities to support government infrastructural and other people oriented policies and programmes by paying their taxes.
Hon. Iyamu sued for sustained and continuous engagements between the parties present at ensuring that all grey areas are addressed going forward, while also pledging the Ministry’s support to providing the needed assistance for both the Revenue Service and the coalition to function in its set roles.
Speaking with the press after the meeting, Dr. Mrs. Christie Egbune, Chairman, Association of Private Schools Owners of Nigeria (APSON), Oladele Ogundele, State Secretary of Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED) Edo State Chapter, Bishop Dr. Austin Igbasa of Coalition of Private Schools Owners jointly appreciated the EIRS Executive Chairman and the Education Commissioner for the soft landing and the two weeks examinations registration extension granted school proprietors in the State. They urged all their members to comply with the offers granted and visit the various tax offices to formally object to taxes they disagreed with.
Present at the meeting were Hon. (Engr.) Jackson Eribo, Executive Director, MDA Services, management staff of the EIRS and the Education Ministry.
Signed
Courage Eboigbe, ANIPR, MNIM
Head, Corporate Communications
