Kogi state born political activist, Comrade Usman Okai Austin has asked the Kogi state government to revisit the compulsory presentation of parents’ tax clearance certificate as a condition for students registration in higher institutions in the state.
In a statement on Saturday, Okai said majority of the students gaining admission into Kogi state higher institutions are children of farmers as such, subjecting them to compulsory tax clearance will amount to forcing many of them out of schools.
Okai, who was the immediate past House of Representatives candidate for Dekina/Bassa federal constituency, stated that “the policy was not well thought out and proper consultation not done before rash decision that was made public”.
The activist appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to make tax clearance an option, not compulsory for all.
“Before now, we have openly complained that the policy is not achievable but government’s insistence on going ahead with it shows the state government is less concern about the plight of the people and the public opinion,” Okai added.
