The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on Governor Ahmed Ododo of Kogi to ensure policies that prioritise the right to education of children in the state.
The national commissioner for the right to education at the NHRC, Agabaidu Jideani, made the call on Monday in Abuja.
Mr Jideani was reacting to a memo from the Kogi State Board of Internal Revenue Service, which instructed educational institutions not to register students unless their parents presented verifiable tax clearance.
According to him, the directive risks violating children’s right to education in the state.
He urged the governor to consider policies that favoured the children while seeking tax compliance from their parents.
“I appreciate the Kogi State government’s efforts to promote tax compliance.
“But the policy may inadvertently deny children access to education, a fundamental human right enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution and universally recognised in democratic societies,” Mr Jideani said.
He emphasised the need to balance the state’s tax obligations with the protection of children’s educational rights.
He urged Mr Ododo to revise the policy to prevent any negative impact on students’ learning opportunities.
Mr Jideani also commended Kogi State’s past achievements in reducing the number of out-of-school children through initiatives in basic education and school infrastructure development.
He, however, said that the current policy could undermine this progress, particularly for children from low-income families.
“I commend the governor for his developmental strides in the state. I am confident that a solution can be found to balance the need for tax compliance with the right to education.
” There is a need for a policy mix that ensures tax compliance without jeopardising the education of innocent children.
” The NHRC is committed to safeguarding fundamental human rights of Nigerians,” he said.
(NAN)
