The Chief Executive Officer of Kogi State Inland Revenue Service (KGIRS), Alhaji Salihu Sule Enehe, has addressed the requirement of Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) for students seeking admission into the three universities in the state.
Responded to concerns raised by parents and guardians regarding the TCC, noting that it is not an additional fiscal burden on citizens but rather a constitutional obligation intended to ensure civic responsibility and support the state's educational infrastructure.
Alhaji Enehe clarified that the CBT requirement was not designed to prevent students from gaining access to education, as some parents feared.
Rather, it is a legal mandate rooted in Section 24(f) of the Nigerian Constitution, which requires all citizens to declare their income and pay taxes to the relevant authorities promptly.
“The implementation of CBT is a long-standing policy,” Enehe explained, noting that KGIRS has consistently urged relevant authorities to enforce this requirement.
“This is not a new concept and is not intended to deny students their educational rights. Rather, it is a way to ensure that each citizen meets their tax obligations, which in turn supports the state's educational institutions,” he said.
He stressed that although education is a fundamental right of children, parents and guardians also have the duty to comply with their tax responsibilities.
Kogi is the only state in Nigeria with three state-owned universities and as such requires adequate revenue to sustain these institutions.
According to the KGIRS boss, the TCC ensures that necessary funds are available for the continued growth and development of Kogi universities.
“Universities' insistence on TCC is simply a mechanism to ensure that all citizens contribute their fair share through taxes. It is crucial that we address tax evasion and promote fiscal responsibility for the betterment of the state and its people,” Enehe added.
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Alhaji Enehe assured parents and guardians that obtaining a TCC is a simple process.
“There is no need to make additional payments to purchase a CBT. Parents only need to present proof of tax payment and KGIRS will facilitate the issuance of the certificate efficiently,” he assured.
Enehe, who described the school fees charged by the three Kogi State Universities as relatively low compared to those in neighboring states, explained that the reason for this is the government's heavy subsidy on fees. Furthermore, he emphasized that there is a requirement for TCC to ensure that students can fully benefit from this subsidy.
He, therefore, encouraged all parents and guardians, particularly those with children who have gained admission into Kogi State Universities, to comply with their tax obligations and obtain the necessary TCC as part of the admission process.
“The state's universities exist to train and develop people, and we must all do our part to support them,” he said.