Catholic church sues Ekiti
state government over tax
– Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has filed a suit
restraining the Ekiti government from
imposing levies on pupils in its primary and
secondary schools
– Diocesan Bishop Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye
said he is concerned about the propriety of
imposing any development levy on pupils in
Catholic mission schools in Ekiti State
Governor Ayo Fayose
In a stop the Ekiti state government’s plan
to impose levies on pupils in its primary and
secondary schools, the Catholic Diocese of
Ekiti has filed a suit restraining the Ekiti
government from further demand of the levy.
According to The Nation newspaper, the
Church wants the court to determine “if
every child of primary school and junior
secondary school age in Ekiti State is not
entitled to free and compulsory basic
education and also determine if “the
imposition of education development levy or
any tax or levy on pupils and schools in Ekiti
State, including the claimants’ schools, by the
defendants, does not violate Section 2 of
Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education
Act 2004 and Section 19 of the State Universal
Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Law.”
The originating summons also wants the
court to determine if the defendants could
impose education development levy or tax
on pupils and schools “without a law validly
passed by the House of Assembly”.
Speaking at a press conference over the
weekend in Ekiti, Diocesan Bishop Most Rev.
Felix Ajakaye said he was “concerned about
the propriety of imposing any development levy
on pupils in Catholic mission schools in Ekiti
State, moreover when our schools are paying
various levies and taxes demanded by both the
local and state governments”.
Ajakaye expressed dismay at the closure of
seven Catholic schools even as some of
them are preparing for their NECO
examinations.
“The affected pupils are writing exams and
government is closing down their schools.
That is insensitivity.”
The cleric said as a law abiding body, the
Church was taking steps to seek judicial
resolution of the matter.
state government over tax
– Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has filed a suit
restraining the Ekiti government from
imposing levies on pupils in its primary and
secondary schools
– Diocesan Bishop Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye
said he is concerned about the propriety of
imposing any development levy on pupils in
Catholic mission schools in Ekiti State
Governor Ayo Fayose
In a stop the Ekiti state government’s plan
to impose levies on pupils in its primary and
secondary schools, the Catholic Diocese of
Ekiti has filed a suit restraining the Ekiti
government from further demand of the levy.
According to The Nation newspaper, the
Church wants the court to determine “if
every child of primary school and junior
secondary school age in Ekiti State is not
entitled to free and compulsory basic
education and also determine if “the
imposition of education development levy or
any tax or levy on pupils and schools in Ekiti
State, including the claimants’ schools, by the
defendants, does not violate Section 2 of
Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education
Act 2004 and Section 19 of the State Universal
Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Law.”
The originating summons also wants the
court to determine if the defendants could
impose education development levy or tax
on pupils and schools “without a law validly
passed by the House of Assembly”.
Speaking at a press conference over the
weekend in Ekiti, Diocesan Bishop Most Rev.
Felix Ajakaye said he was “concerned about
the propriety of imposing any development levy
on pupils in Catholic mission schools in Ekiti
State, moreover when our schools are paying
various levies and taxes demanded by both the
local and state governments”.
Ajakaye expressed dismay at the closure of
seven Catholic schools even as some of
them are preparing for their NECO
examinations.
“The affected pupils are writing exams and
government is closing down their schools.
That is insensitivity.”
The cleric said as a law abiding body, the
Church was taking steps to seek judicial
resolution of the matter.
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