The Pro-Chancellor of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, has called on the Federal Government to exempt universities and other educational institutions from taxation, warning that multiple taxes imposed on the sector are undermining access to quality education and national development.
Ayorinde made the call on Saturday during the institution’s 15th convocation ceremony, where he argued that education should be supported and subsidised rather than treated as a commercial enterprise.
Delivering a lecture titled “Rethinking taxation in the education sector: Why educational institutions should not be taxed,” the Pro-Chancellor said levies such as company income tax, Value Added Tax, education tax, development levy, billboard and radio taxes, as well as personal income tax on proprietors, place an excessive burden on universities.
According to him, these taxes consume over 40 per cent of tuition fees, which tax authorities classify as revenue generated by educational institutions regarded as companies.
“Education is not merely a social service; it is an investment in human capital. Countries that deliberately nurture their educational systems reap enormous benefits in productivity, innovation and economic growth,” Ayorinde said.
He maintained that education should not be taxed under any circumstances, describing it as a public good rather than a profit-driven enterprise.
“Private universities are not established for profit-making in the commercial sense. They exist to complement government efforts and bridge the admission gap. Taxing them will only force schools to withdraw scholarships, end tuition-free programmes and increase fees, thereby denying many qualified students access to education,” he said.
Ayorinde warned that taxing educational institutions amounts to “taxing knowledge, enlightenment and the future of young Nigerians,” adding that such policies are counter-productive and contrary to global best practices.
He urged President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to initiate urgent reforms by directing the Federal Inland Revenue Service and state boards of internal revenue to grant full tax exemptions to universities and other educational institutions.
The former member of the House of Representatives (2015–2019) stressed that universities should be regarded as development partners rather than revenue-generating entities.
Addressing graduating students, Ayorinde charged them to uphold the values of the institution and avoid social vices, including drug abuse.
“Achievers University has equipped you with knowledge and character. You must rise as leaders of integrity who will contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
Earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, disclosed that 72 students graduated with first-class honours out of a total of 705 graduands.
He said 653 students received first degrees, while 49 completed postgraduate programmes, including postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees and one Doctor of Philosophy.
Aremu also revealed that over 1,000 students were newly matriculated in the current academic session, expressing optimism that enrolment would increase further in the 2025/2026 academic year.
