Our Reporter
Students at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) are raising alarms over a mandatory ₦10,800 tax clearance fee imposed as a condition for exam registration.
Many argue that this fee is both unfair and financially oppressive, especially in light of the current economic hardship facing students and families.
Despite some students presenting valid tax certificates obtained through their parents, MAPOLY administrators are reportedly rejecting these documents, insisting on fresh payments.
This directive has left students frustrated and feeling financially burdened.
PLATFORM TIMES gathered that some have taken to social media, decrying the policy as “unlawful,” noting it adds further financial strain to already high tuition and living costs.
“Many of us haven’t even been able to pay our tuition yet,” one student lamented, “and now we’re being told to pay this additional tax fee.”
PLATFORM TIMES further gathered that in a recent incident, students from the Mass Communication department attempted to submit parent-obtained tax clearance certificates but were instructed to instead pay the ₦10,800 fee directly at the Onikolobo tax office.
This mandate has fueled further outrage, as students are now questioning the necessity and legality of the fee.
A student affected by the policy expressed her frustration: “I used my parent’s valid tax clearance, but the school insisted on the Onikolobo office certificate.
“How can a student already struggling with tuition be asked to pay another ₦10,800 for tax clearance outside the school?”
She argued that students, many of whom rely on parental support, should not be expected to bear an additional tax burden.
Another student reported a similar issue, explaining that despite submitting her father’s 2024 tax clearance, her documentation was labeled as “fake,” forcing her to pay the fee anew.
She recounted, “I went to the Onikolobo office, only to be told the tax clearance was invalid, and I had to make a fresh payment.”
The financial burden is becoming overwhelming for some students. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, shared that her family’s financial difficulties have made it challenging to keep up with school expenses.
“My parents are struggling to support me, and it’s getting so hard. With tuition balances and now this tax clearance fee, I’m not sure how much longer I can continue my studies.”
In response to the growing discontent, the Polytechnic’s Public Relations Officer, Yemi Ajibola, clarified that the tax clearance requirement was not a policy established by the school but a directive from the Government.
“The management did not mandate this fee; it’s a government directive. Tax clearance falls under government jurisdiction, and students with questions should reach out to the Ministry of Education.”
However, this mandate appears inconsistent. Students from MAPOLY’s Pharmaceutical Technology Department report that they were not asked to pay the tax clearance fee but only to submit scratch cards, which they’ve already completed.
The discrepancy has left students questioning why some departments, such as Pharmaceutical Technology and the School of Science and Technology, are seemingly exempt from the requirement.
The fee’s uneven implementation has stirred widespread criticism, with students calling on the Government to clarify the policy and ease what they view as an exploitative burden on already struggling students and families.
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