Catholic church in Ekiti at war with Governor

chika ebuzor

May 2, 2016 7:12 AM

This is following the shutting down of seven schools belonging to the Catholic church, by the state government, for refusing to pay the education levy.

The Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has sued the state government for allegedly imposing levies on pupils in the state.

Punch reports that the Ekiti state government asked students in pupils in primary schools to pay N500 and those in secondary schools, N1,000.

You will recall that the National Association of Proprietors and Proprietress of Private Schools (NAPPPS) in Ekiti state, rejected the education levy imposed on them, by Governor Ayo Fayose, saying the levy is contrary to Section 42(1) (a) and (b) of the 1999 Constitution.

Speaking to newsmen, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye said “I am concerned about the propriety of imposing any development levy on pupils in Catholic mission schools in Ekiti State, moreover when our schools are paying various levies and taxes demanded by the local and state governments respectively.

“The closure of the schools is painful to me. The pupils are preparing to sit for exams and the government is closing down their schools. This is insensitivity.”

He also accused the state government of being insensitive to the plight of the students preparing for the National Examination Council (NECO) examinations.

READ: Fayose terminates free education in Ekiti state

In March 2016, all private schools in Ekiti state were shut for three days, to protest the alleged multiple taxation by the state government.

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chika ebuzor