Kogi State Policy Requiring Students to Present Parents’ Tax Clearance Before Registration Sparks Outrage

The Kogi State government’s directive mandating students to present their parents’ tax clearance certificates before they can register for school has ignited widespread criticism from parents, human rights activists, and education advocates. The policy, outlined in a memo from the Chairman of the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue Services, Sule Enehe, was issued in November 2024 and has been described as discriminatory and harmful to students’ right to education.

A legal practitioner and rights activist based in Kogi State, Arome Odoma, has formally challenged the policy. In a pre-action notice addressed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo and the Chairman of the Board of Internal Revenue Services, Odoma condemned the policy as “repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience.” He emphasized that education is a fundamental right, not a privilege, and argued that penalizing students for their parents’ tax non-compliance contravenes both legal and ethical standards.

Odoma highlighted that many students in Kogi State lack parental support and often rely on personal effort to pursue their education. He noted that the policy disproportionately affects vulnerable students and warned that it could lead to decreased school enrollment, thereby undermining the state’s educational progress. In his statement, he urged the government to reverse the policy by January 10, 2025, or face legal action.

Parents have also expressed frustration. Elesho Emmanuel, a concerned parent, criticized the policy as “anti-education and anti-human,” questioning why children should bear the consequences of their parents’ inability to pay taxes. He called on Governor Ododo to reconsider the directive, suggesting it was implemented in a misguided attempt to boost revenue.

Additionally, Sir Agabaidu Jideani, the National Commissioner for the Right to Education at the National Human Rights Commission of Nigeria, weighed in on the controversy. While commending the government’s efforts to ensure tax compliance, he cautioned that the directive could inadvertently violate children’s right to education. Jideani called for a balanced approach that prioritizes education while addressing tax collection challenges.

The policy has drawn widespread condemnation and calls for immediate reversal, with critics urging the government to prioritize access to education over revenue-generation strategies that could harm students’ futures.