The Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has filed a suit against the imposition of levies on pupils in its primary and secondary schools by the Ekiti State government.
The State Government had shut seven schools run by the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti for failure to pay the Education Development Levy.
The church urged an Ekiti State High Court to declare that the defendants could not impose education development levy or tax on pupils and schools and determine “if every child of primary school and junior secondary school age in Ekiti State is not entitled to free and compulsory basic education.
Speaking to newsmen over the weekend, Diocesan Bishop Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye said he was “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 both the local and state governments”
Ajakaye expressed dismay at the closure of seven Catholic schools even as some of them are preparing for their NECO examinations.
The closure, according to him, followed the breakdown of negotiations between the Diocese and government representatives.
The cleric said as a law abiding body, the Church was taking steps to seek judicial resolution of the matter.
The State Government had shut seven schools run by the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti for failure to pay the Education Development Levy.
The church urged an Ekiti State High Court to declare that the defendants could not impose education development levy or tax on pupils and schools and determine “if every child of primary school and junior secondary school age in Ekiti State is not entitled to free and compulsory basic education.
Speaking to newsmen over the weekend, Diocesan Bishop Most Rev. Felix Ajakaye said he was “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 both the local and state governments”
Ajakaye expressed dismay at the closure of seven Catholic schools even as some of them are preparing for their NECO examinations.
The closure, according to him, followed the breakdown of negotiations between the Diocese and government representatives.
The cleric said as a law abiding body, the Church was taking steps to seek judicial resolution of the matter.