Wike’s Fee Hike Faces Opposition from Abuja Private Schools

Cursory: Potential fee increase looms for Abuja private schools as Minister Nyesom Wike introduces new charges based on student enrollment and tuition. See full details…

There’s a potential increase in fees for private schools in Abuja following the decision by the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, to raise operational charges.

According to a memo from the Head of Account, Department of Quality Assurance of the Education Secretariat, Mudi Muhammed, each school will now be charged based on student tuition and enrollment numbers under the new tax regime. This change is set to take effect from January 2024.

The memo was titled: “Review of private school operation charges in FCT,” and it read: “ Following the approval of the Honourable Minister of the FCT for a review of operational charges (annual charge, accreditation, application, re-accreditation, commencement and recognition) payable by private schools in the FCT.

“You are by this letter informed that the old rate of charges cease to be valid as of 31/12/2023 and the new rate of charges effective 1/1/2024.

“Under the new rate, each school is billed according to the tuition charged and the number of enrollments. As a consequence, each school has its peculiar bill. You should also note that all application(s) are now N40,000.”

The National Association of Private School Owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) expressed concerns about the tax review in a letter to the Education Secretariat.

They highlighted that this review, at a time when the Federal Government pledged to eliminate multiple taxes, could heighten the cost of education, making it unaffordable for many parents and contributing to the rise of out-of-school children.

The association, signed by its Chairperson, Ruqayah Agboola, emphasized that the tax adjustment would additionally strain private schools in the FCT by increasing their operational expenses.

The association said, “Unfortunately, our members rejected the proposal in its entirety. They cited the hard economy, the huge bank loans outstanding in their books, the unpaid fees by many owing parents, the many levies payable to local government and other agencies, and more importantly payment of their teachers’ salaries, other staff as well as maintenance of our infrastructure.

“Our members, therefore, plead that you use your good office to effect a 50 per cent reduction in the existing annual dues to enable your office to recover the outstanding dues. We will partner with you to achieve this.”

An anonymous member of the National Association of Private School Owners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) revealed plans to write to Minister Nyesom Wike about the imposed tax and inform the Parents-Teachers Association.

Credit: Punch

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