Private school owners seek tax exemption in post Covid era

By Osaigbovomwan Iguobaro

Private schools owners in Edo State asked for Tax and Renewal fee waiver from the government to enable them survive the economic hardship caused by COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and #EndSARS protests in last October.
The proprietors also urged government to provide “palliatives for our staff whose data could be easily sourced from the state Inland Revenue Service PAYEE record”.
The appeal was contained in a Pres s release by issued by Edo State wing of Association of Private School Owners of Nigeria (APSON) and the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED).
The Press release was jointly signed by Bishop Ohis Emmanuel Elakhe and Comrade Osagie Erhunmwunse – chairmen of APSON and AFED respectively.
The groups appealed to the State government to ensure a safe re-opening of schools on February 1, 2021, adding that “this will enable our final year students join their counterparts in the country to enrol and seat for WASSCE which is expected to hold in April 2021”.
While commending the Edo State Government for its pragmatic approach to curtail the second wave of COVID-19, the group expressed concern over the closure of schools till February 1st, 2021.
According to the Stakeholders, “whereas schools remain the most coordinated environment for effective containment of the virus.
“Moreso, we are however shocked that Stakeholders in the education sector were excluded in the consultative meeting of government which adopted the opening of markets, places of worship and holding of parties”.