The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Otunba (Hon.) Oladele Bankole-Balogun, alongside the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. Paddy Iyamu, on Tuesday, September 29, 2025, resolved issues surrounding alleged excessive taxation of school proprietors in the state.
In a strategic stakeholders meeting held at the EIRS Corporate Head Office, the EIRS & Education leadership engaged with the Coalition of Private School Proprietors in Edo State, led by Dr. Lemmy Russel. Discussions centred on the Coalition’s recurring concerns regarding tax assessments served on owners of private schools.
During the meeting, the coalition’s leadership appealed for a blanket reduction of these tax liabilities for its members, citing the financial strain on their operations and income.
In his response, the EIRS Executive Chairman maintained that tax assessment is an individual matter, emphasizing that reductions or reconciliations must be considered on a case-by-case basis, not applied collectively. Otunba Bankole-Balogun stressed that assessments are merit-driven and anchored on the income of each taxpayer, while also assuring them of the State Government’s support for the educational businesses.
“The Personal Income Tax Act allows the Revenue Service to raise a best-of-judgement assessment against a taxpayer who fails to file returns or declare income,” said the EIRS boss. “We will give school proprietors a renewed leeway to object to their tax assessments, and we will review all complaints dispassionately.
“I urge the coalition leadership to mobilize your members to approach the Revenue Service individually with the necessary documents for objection. The government of Senator Monday Okpebholo is ready to support every school proprietor in Edo State.”
The stakeholder engagement also served as an opportunity for the EIRS to educate the coalition and Ministry officials on statutory tax assessment processes. The Director of Income Tax (Direct Assessment/Withholding Taxes), Mr. Eghosa Brown, FCA, highlighted the rights and responsibilities of taxpayers under the Personal Income Tax Act, 2011 (as amended) and the Nigerian Constitution. He cited relevant sections of the Act, including the option to raise objections where assessments appear excessive. Mr. Brown also noted that since the meeting of April 15th, 2025, some school owners have already taken advantage of this objection window.
The Honourable Commissioner for Education, Dr. Iyamu, commended the EIRS for the opportunity to dialogue, noting that such engagements foster better understanding and cooperation between government agencies and education stakeholders. He admonished the coalition to encourage its members to use the platforms provided by law to resolve tax disputes amicably and responsibly.
While assuring the coalition of the government’s commitment to ensuring their businesses thrive, he emphasized that paying tax is a fundamental civic responsibility of all business owners.
Other school proprietors and coalition members appealed to the EIRS for more tax education and awareness opportunities to guide their present and future tax engagements.
The meeting concluded with a clear understanding that while blanket reductions were not feasible, individual proprietors could pursue reconciliations and raise objections through the appropriate channels provided by tax laws.
Present at the meeting as observers were Leftist Omobude Agho and Comrade Solomon Idiogbe from their respective civil society organizations.
This stakeholder engagement, the third in a series, has therefore provided a clear path forward, as school owners have been granted a renewed opportunity to individually object to their tax assessments in line with the Personal Income Tax Act.
Signed
Courage Eboigbe ANIPR, MNIM, ACTI
Head, Corporate Communications
Edo IRS
