TAX PAYERS MONEY IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR: Ogun, A Case Study.

  TAX PAYERS MONEY IN THE EDUCATION SECTOR: Ogun, A Case Study.

A mind that is learning is a free mind, and freedom demands the responsibility of learning.Education ,a process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values, morals , beliefs and habit through teaching, training, discussion and directed research. 

Education in this context is the formal method of learning which forms in most cases, the choice of   a life career. It is commonly of stages from preschool, primary education, Secondary Education and the College/ University Educational Institution. 

The primary stage is the first stage of formal education which is the foundation laying level that is universally accepted in all nations of the world , provides the mini – structural frame work on which the quality of other levels of education is anchored.

The next of it is the secondary education stage which covers two phases on the education scale which is the junior secondary education that is considered the second and final phase of basic education, and  senior secondary education   which is the pre0 tertiary education.

Secondary education typically takes place after six years of primary education and is followed by the higher education of vocational education .It is the higher institution level of education be it at the Universities , Polytechnics or colleges. It is taken to include under graduate and post graduate education.

The essence for education is the knowledge of basic skills , technical discipline. Education is the most powerfull weapon which can be used to change the world.  Education is the Panacea for solving problems such as illiteracy, ignorance , religious violence, insecurity and political servitude and it is the fuel to a better society. It is no doubt an avenue for people to people to work better as it entails critical skills and tools to help them provide for themselves and their society at large.

However, most of us will agree that an educated person gets better opportunities in life.  Education is one of the most important  investment a country can make . Education is essential for many reasons, some of which are :For a happy and stable life, Money: an educated person has more chance of getting a good high paying job for a better carrier option . Equality; If you want to see the world as a just and fair place where averyone is given equal opportunities , education is then required. Make your dreams into reality, For economic growth of the nation education is vital for the economic prosperity of the nation. Keep up the world we live in a ever changing world where new technologies keeps coming up and if you don’t want to be left behind , you must keep up with the world which is moving really fast. So, being educated keeps you more aware of the latest technologies and the changes that comes with it. Makes the world a safer and more peaceful place – education majorly affects our understanding of the difference between right and wrong. An educated person is well aware of the consequences of wrong or illegal actions and he is less likely to get influenced  and do something  which is not legally or morally right.  Hence, education is an important factor which contributes in social harmony  and peace. Respect ,everybody like a wise and knowledgeable person!  It safes you from being exploited  and fooled. Marthin  Luther King  Jnr said  “ The function of education is to teach one to think  intensively and to think critically”.  

Governor Dapo Abiodun in his inaugural speech, emphasized on the importance of education and the  need  for prompt attention in resuscitating  educational sector In Ogun State. “ We shall ensure that our schools are conducive for learning  through provision of adequate infrastructure  and facilities . we will embark on a massive capacity building program for our teachers to enable them upgrade their skills and qualifications inorder to prepare them adequately  for their unique role of impacting knowledge “.  

In Ogun State of present, the right to education has not only been recognized by the Governor Dapo Abiodun's Administration within his two years in service, but undergoing a yellow turned Leaf in a ripened development, hence, the voice of tax.

 ‘Tax is a compulsory exaction of money by a public authority for public purposes, It is raising money for the purpose of government by means of contributions from individual persons’. According to 

Latham C J. Borrowing from Magnum Opus of Chris Whitehouse and Elizabeth Stuart- Buttle, Tax has three basic features namely: a compulsory levy, imposed by government or local authority; and for public purpose or to encourage social justice.

In any venture where symbiotic approach is adopted, it is easier and quicker to attain desirable success in togetherness. Cognizant of this, the essence for which tax collection sets to achieve is obviously to sets the interest of all and sundry regardless of class, religious or political affiliation and ethnic diversity. This therefore implies that every individual who yearns for a varile, developed and congenial society needs to embrace the principle of voluntary tax compliance.

Tax collection in ogun , the gateway state lies primarily to raise capital for the execution of government policies to aid economic stabilization and effective redistribution of income , which are judiciously collected and used to make provisions for employment opportunities , Educational Development,infrastructure, security, social amenities and other developmental programme for the benefit of all. 

731 (Seven hundred and thirty one days in Office of The Governor  of Ogun State between May 29, 2019 and May 29,2021, can only be expressed as "Tax Payers Money in Action".  This is culled from the language of remarkable achievements in all sectors for development, with emphasis on the Educational Sector in the state. 

In the cause of the days,  Prince Dapo Abiodun cancelled all forms of payment and levies as a demonstration of his administrations ' Total Free education Policy ' this drastically brought about increased enrollment of learners in schools, 

Employment of 1500 Teachers into public schools across the 20 LGAs in the State.

Promotion and Induction of Principals, VPs, Teachers and allied workers.   

Commencement of over 960 rehabilitation projects in the primary and secondary schools ( The Yellow Roof Revolution) , Over 120 percent increase in the running cost allotted for primary and secondary schools, 50 percent increase in feeding allowance for learners in Special Need Schools, Introduction of Ogun Digi Class to facilitate teaching and learning during and after Covid 19 locked down, Approval for Ogun State Education Intervention Fund( OGSEIF) as a special intervention fund for the education sector. Introduction of Ogun TEACH intervention to employ five thousand (5000) interns to fill the teacher’s vacancies in primary and secondary schools as well as technical colleges. Resuscitation and relocation of Ogun State Braille Book Production Center. Approval for production of 25,000 tables and chairs for primary and secondary schools. 

Distribution of wheel Chairs to the Special Needs Learners. 

Approval of scholarships for outstanding students in all Ogun State Tertiary institutions and payment of Bursary to Ogun State indegene in Nigeria Tertiary institutions.

Repositioning and Construction of Central Education Management Information System (EMIS) for Data gathering and presentation to mention a few. 

As it were, the token collected from eligible individuals as tax is majorly an aid for government to fulfilling its social contract with the masses. The absence of adequate tax management will not only spell doom on the state, but will also have incapacitated the provisions of efficient socio amenities like schools, and others. 

Bukola Abdulsalam

Press Officer OGIRS