Kogi Governor Cancels Parents’ Tax Clearance Requirement for Tertiary Enrollment

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, has announced the immediate suspension of the Tax Clearance Certificate (TCC) requirement for parents as a condition for enrolling students in state-owned tertiary institutions.

The directive was communicated to the public by the Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS), Alhaji Sule Enehe, during a media briefing in Lokoja on Wednesday. Enehe explained that the governor issued the order on Tuesday, ensuring that no student would be denied registration or admission in any Kogi tertiary institution due to their parents’ inability to provide a TCC.

This decision follows significant public backlash against a policy that had made the TCC of parents a mandatory requirement for student registration in Kogi’s tertiary institutions. The policy had sparked widespread controversy, with many civil society organizations and members of the public criticizing it as a violation of students’ fundamental right to education.

Addressing the public’s concerns, Enehe emphasized that while the TCC requirement had been abolished for enrollment purposes, it remains important for all taxable citizens in Kogi to fulfill their legal obligation to pay Personal Income Tax. He reminded residents that tax payment is a constitutional duty under Section 24(f), which mandates all taxable adults to contribute to government revenue.

Enehe also pointed out that although parents’ tax payments are not a prerequisite for student enrollment, failure to pay taxes could result in students missing out on other government benefits, such as bursary allowances. He underscored that the state government’s efforts to offer affordable and quality education across its three universities are supported by tax revenues, which help provide essential social services.

“We have three universities in Kogi to provide quality education at a highly subsidized rate, and it is crucial that parents fulfill their tax obligations to enable the government to continue delivering social amenities,” he added.

On the issue of illegal tax collection, Enehe reiterated the state’s commitment to cracking down on fraudulent practices. He warned that the KGIRS would continue to take action against illegal tax agents who use fake receipts and emblems or set up unauthorized roadblocks. So far, the KGIRS has dismissed several staff members for engaging in fraudulent activities and has prosecuted 43 illegal tax agents.

Enehe also highlighted the ongoing digitization of the state’s tax collection processes, which aims to streamline tax payments for both businesses and individuals, making the system more efficient and transparent.

In terms of revenue performance, the KGIRS has seen significant growth in tax collections, with N17 billion raised in 2021, N18.2 billion in 2022, N23.5 billion in 2023, and N27.7 billion in 2024. The agency is projecting N35.1 billion in revenue for 2025.