LAGOS GOVERNMENT CLEARS AIR ON STUDENTS' TAX PAYMENT, FREE EDUCATION

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The Lagos State Government has clarified a misunderstanding regarding a tax levy it requested from students when the 2023–2024 academic year resumed.

The clarification was made known in a statement released on Sunday, October 8 and signed by the commissioner for basic and secondary education, Hon. Alli Balogun, which according to him has led to the usual criticism of Lagos State Education Governance.

According to the statement, “the realization that taxation is one of the core internally generated revenue for the Government in order to meet its commitment with public demands, is key to developmental strives, in the provisions of basic necessities to the citizens.

“Lagos State Government free education policy is still in operation from kindergarten to SS3. The tax payment is the duty of parents to pay. The LIRS staff are attached to schools for easier payment of tax by parents.

“Parents that have paid their tax need not to pay another but provide their tax certificate for authentication and verification. This can be done instantly by staff of LIRS for necessary documentation as to avoid double taxation.

“Receipt for tax payments are to be issued instantly to avoid collection of tax payments bundle from parents with the use of one surname for many pupils or students. This is unacceptable unless the pupils and students are from the same parents.

“The tax payments is an on-going exercise and not a hindrance to deny pupils and students from registration enrollment into schools.”