ADO-EKITI PRIVATE SCHOOLS TO BEGIN STRIKE

A three-day strike began on Monday in Ekiti State by private schools to protest the imposition of N1,000 development levy per term on their pupils by Governor Ayodele Fayose.

A fee of N1,000 per term was announced by the state government, as education development levy for
public secondary school pupils while the sum of N500 is to be paid by primary schools.

The government, however, in a circular by the Ministry of Education, extended the development levy to private schools.
The President of the association, Alhaji Saka Adeleye, stated on Monday, when addressing journalists in Ado Ekiti, that private schools in the state would remain shut for three days to protest multiple taxation from the government.

Adeleye, further mentioned that private schools enjoyed no benefit from the government, despite paying 12 different taxes imposed on them.

He listed the taxes to include Personal Income Tax, Pay As You Earn for staff, Annual Renewal Fee, Personal Development Fee, Environment Levy, Registration of Business Premises Fee, Vehicle Permit fee and Tenement Rate.

“There is no infrastructural development to private schools. Nothing was given to us to develop our schools; all they (government) do is to extort us through taxes. Even during the outbreak of the deadly disease, Ebola, no kit was given to us.

“We use our capital to fund our schools; not even textbooks, chalks from the government. The government distributed laptops to public schools but not one was given to private schools. So what are we gaining?

“Even if the government decides to reduce the development levy, we are not ready to pay. We have made several attempts to meet the governor but all effort proved abortive.

“We call on the ministry to withdraw forthwith all the circular letters relating to payment of the newly introduced development levy in private schools in the state and/or any other development levy” Adeleye said.