The National President of the Association for Formidable Educational Development (AFED), Hon. Orji Kanu Emmanuel, has appealed to the Governor of Edo State to urgently review the recent astronomical tax increase imposed on private schools in the state.
In an open letter to the governor, which was also copied to the Minister of Education, Hon. Emmanuel described the tax hike—reportedly over 3000 percent—as a crippling burden that threatens the effective administration of low-cost private schools.
According to him, AFED is committed to providing affordable but qualitative education to reduce the number of out-of-school children, a mandate that is now being undermined by the excessive taxes and levies.
Hon. Emmanuel further expressed concern over what he called the “politicization of education” by the state’s Commissioner of Education.
He alleged that some association leaders and school owners, including the AFED Controller in Edo State, are being subjected to harassment and witch-hunt.
“I am particularly worried about the singling out of Godsent and his school, which appears to be a clear case of political vendetta,” he wrote. “The current actions of the Commissioner of Education are counterproductive to our collective effort to ensure access to quality education.”
The AFED president warned that the excessive levies and political interference could reverse the progress made in reducing the number of out-of-school children in Edo State.
He urged the governor to intervene and direct the Commissioner of Education to immediately halt what he described as hostile actions against private school operators.
Hon. Emmanuel also called on civil society organizations to speak out and ensure that “democracy is not hijacked by individuals who seem to be operating like they did during the military junta era.
He emphasized that collaboration, not confrontation, remains the best path to improving education in the state.
Reporting by Innocent Onoh