… Commits to food security in Edo
In a bid to address rising concerns over alleged taxation of private schools in Edo State, the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) and the State Ministry of Education met with representatives of the Coalition of Private School Owners at the EIRS Corporate Headquarters in Benin City.
The meeting followed a protest by members of the coalition, who had recently petitioned the Ministry of Education over what they perceived as unfair taxation imposed on their schools.
Responding to the concerns, the Executive Director of Income Taxes at EIRS, Hon. Akhimien Patrick Idiake who represented the Executive Chairman, Hon. (Barr) Oladele Bankole-Balogun clarified that the Revenue Service is not levying taxes on schools as institutions, but on the personal income of their proprietors, in accordance with the law.
“What we are taxing is the personal income of the school owners, not the schools themselves,” Hon. Idiake stated, adding that this is in line with the provisions of the tax law governing personal income taxation in the state.
A press release signed by the Head of Corporate Communications, Courage Eboigbe, noted that proprietors who dispute their tax assessments have the legal right to file written objections.
According to EIRS, such objections will be reviewed individually and on their merit, with the assurance that genuine concerns will be addressed.
In a conciliatory gesture, the EIRS disclosed that school proprietors have been allowed to pay ten percent of their assessed taxes while their objections are being processed.
Hon. Idiake emphasised that the administration of Senator Monday Okpebholo is committed to fairness and is not out to impose hardship on business owners.
“This government listens. We’re not targeting the poor. We want schools and businesses to flourish,” he said.
Commissioner for Education, Hon. (Dr.) Paddy Iyamu, who was also present, praised the prompt intervention by the EIRS and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting the growth of private education and business in a stable economic environment.
He urged all stakeholders to continue engaging constructively with government agencies and to play their part in supporting infrastructure and development through timely tax compliance.
Dr. Oyakhire, who spoke on behalf of the coalition, appreciated the efforts of both the EIRS and the Education Ministry, while appealing for broader sensitivity to the current economic hardships and a review of what he described as overlapping levies from multiple government bodies.
Also speaking after the meeting, Dr. Mrs. Christie Egbune, Chairman of the Association of Private Schools Owners of Nigeria (APSON); Oladele Ogundele, State Secretary of the Association for Formidable Education Development (AFED); and Bishop Dr. Austin Igbasa of the Coalition of Private Schools Owners, expressed gratitude for the “soft landing” provided by the government, including a two-week extension for examination registration.
They encouraged all proprietors to take advantage of the tax offices to file formal objections where necessary and commended the dialogue-driven approach adopted by the government.
The meeting also had in attendance, Hon. (Engr.) Jackson Eribo, Executive Director, MDA Services; senior management staff of the EIRS; and representatives from the Ministry of Education.
Meanwhile, Governor Monday Okpebholo has undertaken an inspection of the Uwesan Farm Settlement located in Esan Central Local Government Area, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to enhancing food security across Edo State.
Accompanied by investors, the governor also inspected the ongoing construction of the 2.3-kilometre Illeh-Akho-Irrua road, which features side drains designed to control water flow in the area.
Governor Okpebholo expressed satisfaction with the progress and quality of the road project, which is expected to improve connectivity between Esan Central and Esan West Local Government Areas.
He stated that regular inspections would continue and that the Ministry of Works would remain actively involved to ensure quality control.
At the Uwesan Farm Settlement, the governor addressed investors and stakeholders, thanking them for joining him on the visit. He disclosed that the state had set aside farm settlements in Edo South, Central, and North, with the aim of boosting agricultural productivity and food sufficiency. Planting activities, he said, would begin as early as next week, with the initial focus on cultivating corn and cassava on the 400-hectare site.
He described the initiative as a milestone in the state’s agricultural development, highlighting the fertility of the land and the government’s seriousness in supporting large-scale farming efforts.
He added that the presence of investors would pave the way for technical partnerships in subsequent phases.
Dr Peter Osagie, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, stated that the Uwesan Farm Settlement is located on communal land, and the local community has pledged full cooperation with the government. He explained that the focus on cassava farming was strategic, given its dual use as human food and animal feed.
He pointed out that the animal feed industry is currently facing a shortage of maize, a gap the state intends to fill.
Dr Osagie also revealed that cassava remains one of the most stable sources of carbohydrate in developing economies, and with two ethanol plants in Edo relying on cassava as feedstock, the demand is guaranteed.
He noted that cassava farmers in the state have become instant millionaires due to assured off-take and added that the government is in talks with more investors to support cassava cultivation on a broader scale.
Plans are already in motion to expand farming on the existing 400 hectares, as the state positions itself as a leader in agricultural production.
