By Favour Ilani, Idah.
There has been a public outcry over a new policy that makes registration of students into higher education stringent in Kogi State.
The Kogi State Government has mandated that all students of state-owned higher institutions, both new and returning, must provide Tax Clearance Certificate for their parents or guardians as part of their registration process.
Eventually, this requirement is being enforced across all tertiary institutions in the state, including Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU).
PAAU has informed its students that, in compliance with the state’s directive, each student must present Tax Clearance Certificate for their parent or guardian to complete registration for the 2024/2025 academic session.
University officials are urging students to begin preparing the necessary documents to avoid delays, as the policy will be strictly enforced for the upcoming academic session.
Speaking with this reporter on this hard policy, Paul Ameh, who retired from Ajaokuta Steel Company and now residing in his village asked these rhetorical questions, “what happens to the son of a poor peasant farmer in the village? What about those who hustle with menial jobs to sponsor themselves in school? What happens to the orphans seeking admission?”
Ameh said this policy is aimed at those who lost their jobs, petty traders, farmers, fishers, casual labourers etc, adding that Kogi State Government should be properly advised on this aspect.
A civil servant in Kogi State, Omika Ichaba said unnecessary barriers is anti-progressive. He said all civil servants are automatic tax payers, why taking the pains of going for tax clearance as if they seeking contracts.
Omika asked, “What about the children of those who lost their job during screening in Kogi State?”
Evelyn Abuka, a private school teacher said the school registration fees paid by students t a form of taxation.
She said definitely the government is going to lose more revenue paid through registration fees by denying the students of it on account of failure to produce the tax clearance certificates of their parents and university enrolments in Kogi State will soon drop as admission seekers will drift to other institutions like Federal University Lokoja.
“Some things don’t make sense at all,” she said.
