Outrage Erupts In Kogi Over Mandatory Parental Tax Clearance For Student Registration

The Kogi State Government’s recent directive requiring students to present their parents’ valid tax clearance certificates before being allowed to register for school has triggered widespread public outcry. Parents, human rights activists, and education stakeholders have openly criticized the policy, calling it discriminatory and harmful to the right to education.

In November 2024, the Chairman of the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue Services, Sule Enehe, issued a directive instructing educational institutions to deny registration to students who fail to submit a verifiable parental tax clearance certificate.

Legal Challenge and Public Backlash

Prominent Kogi-based legal practitioner and human rights advocate, Arome Odoma, has taken a stand against the policy by issuing a pre-action notice against the state government. Addressed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Revenue Board Chairman, Odoma described the policy as a violation of natural justice, equity, and good conscience.

In the notice, Odoma asserted that education is a fundamental right, not a privilege, emphasizing that all states, including Kogi, are constitutionally obligated to ensure non-discriminatory access to education. He criticized the policy for punishing students for circumstances beyond their control, such as their parents’ tax status.

Odoma stated:

“Education is not a privilege but a right, and it is legally guaranteed for all citizens without discrimination. This policy undermines the educational rights of students, some of whom self-fund their education through hard labor.”

He further stressed that several political leaders in Nigeria, including governors and senators, were able to pursue education without parental financial support, highlighting the policy’s flawed foundation.

Appeal for Policy Reversal

Odoma urged Governor Ododo to reconsider the directive, arguing that it could:

Violate the constitutional right to education.
Reduce internally generated revenue for educational institutions.
Impose undue hardship on students and their families.

He called for the policy to be rescinded by January 10, 2025, warning that legal action would be pursued if the government failed to reverse the directive.

Parents and Human Rights Commission React

A concerned parent, Mr. Elesho Emmanuel, described the policy as both “anti-education and anti-human,” questioning why children should be penalized for their parents’ financial non-compliance.

Similarly, Sir Agabaidu Jideani, National Commissioner for the Right to Education at the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria (NHRC), appealed to Governor Ododo to prioritize the educational rights of children while seeking tax compliance solutions. He commended the government’s efforts to ensure tax discipline but cautioned that the current approach could inadvertently deprive children of their right to education.

The Kogi State Government is yet to respond to the growing demands for a policy reversal as tension continues to rise among residents and human rights advocates.