The former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi, has called on Federal, State and Local Governments to stop all forms of taxations and levies on voluntary agencies and privately-owned primary and secondary schools across the country that render services for the common good.
He made the call during his recent visit to Christ the King College (CKC) Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, which is the best school in the West African Examination Council (WAEC) 2017 examination.
Obi described education as a foundation and the most critical comportment of development in any society and called on government at all levels to pursue progress and development anchored on education since, according to him, the level of growth among nations is directly proportional to their investment in education. He said that one of the major problems facing Nigeria is the low level of educational penetration in some of her states.
Making a case for free basic education, Obi said: “Since Nigeria is a signatory to free Universal Basic Education, and claims that education at basic level is free, it should give support to all institutions providing basic education irrespective of ownership as is obtainable in other nations today. Since no level of government gives any form of support to these schools in the form of finances or provision of educational equipment, the least they can do is to stop bothering them with all manner of taxes and levies.”
The former Governor thanked voluntary agencies as well as private primary and school owners for their contributions to basic education in Nigeria, urging them to continue to improve on the quality of their teachings and facilities.
While thanking the students and teachers of CKC Ijebu Ode, he called on other owners of schools to emulate the proprietors of the institution by supporting their schools through the provision of first class facilities.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a cheque of 1 Million Naira to the school for continued infrastructure improvement.