Muslim school owners ask Lagos to address multiple taxations

Muslim school proprietors in Lagos have asked the state government to address problems of multiple taxations of schools by government agencies.

The proprietors lamented that both local and state government officials had been imposing various types of taxes and levies on them.

The Chairman of the League of Muslim School

Proprietors (LEAMSP), Alhaji Mansur Yaqeen, who spoke during the annual proprietors’ summit of the association in Lagos yesterday, said multiple taxes were draining the profit of schools.

He said, “One of the levies and taxes by the local government is for fumigation. They insist schools must be fumigated by them and they charge a high rate for that. Anyone who refuses to pay them will be served a summons which they will use in inviting that school to court.

“Asides from fumigation, they also have radio and television charges. Nobody understands what these charges stand for. But they collect a minimum of N10,000 and a maximum of N40,000 from schools for this. We also pay business premises permit, parking lot, and developmental levies to the local government.

“These taxes are not encouraging. We need their support in terms of grants, and non-interest loans, just like the one given to the entertainment industry early this year.

“Most of these agencies are oblivious of the fact that we exist to complement the efforts of government in providing education for all residents of Lagos and not money bags or rivals.

The incessant charges and levies are making the operating environment more difficult to survive on daily basis.”