Some public secondary schools’ students in Osun State, yesterday, protested against the demands for three years tax clearance from their parents by the Osun State Government.
By the new tax regime of the state government, an adult artisan is expected to pay a sum of N1, 500 per year as tax, while the arrears of three years of tax beginning from 2013 amount to N4,500.
Also, evidence of tax payment were demanded from students resuming in new schools in the state.
Specifically, about 250 students within Osogbo metropolis, protested against the demand for evidence of three years tax payment from their parents.
The protesting students, who walked across major streets in the state capital, later moved to Abeere, the State Secretariat and caused traffic gridlock on the busy Gbongan/Osogbo Express Way.
Some of the students, who spoke to newsmen, told the state government to shelve demand for evidence of three years tax payment by their parent before they are allowed to sit for their papers, stressing that many of them tried without success to get the tax clearance.
They added that the government should look for other means to ensure payment of taxes rather than tying it to education.
Addressing the students, the Permanent Secretary, Osun State Ministry of Education, Mr. Lawrence Oyeniran, explained that the tax scheme was meant to ensure that parents with wards in public schools, pay their taxes and assured them that the matter will be resolved amicably.
