Nigerian Govt Imposes Over N10,000 Tax Fee On Students
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in Lagos State has imposed a compulsory N10,500 tax clearance fee on state government-owned secondary school 3 students processing their West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) registration.
A source on Friday said that the state government issued a directive asking SS3 students of state-owned secondary schools to pay N10,500 tax clearance each before they can be registered for the West African Examination Council (WAEC)-organised examination.
According to the source, WAEC registration has always been free but the state government said it has paid for the students’ WAEC registration, hence the compulsory N10,500 tax clearance fee.
When visited some state government-owned secondary schools including Eletu Odibo Senior High, located in Abule-Oja, Yaba area of the state where affected SS3 students of the school confirmed the tax clearance fee imposition by the state government.
Speaking, about six students of and other SS3 students from other schools within the area unanimously confirmed the fee imposition but explained that any student who presents a tax clearance certificate of their parents, bearing the same surname being used in school, are exempt.
One of the students said, “It is true but it is about the student’s surname. The way it works is that if a student presents a tax clearance certificate bearing his or her surname, whether it is from the student’s father, mother or even uncle.
“As long as the clearance certificate bears the surname of the student, the student will not pay the N10,500 but any student who doesn’t have a clearance certificate to present must pay the N10,500 tax clearance.”
When contacted Mr Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said he was not aware of it.
