Lagos Denies Imposing N20,000 Education Tax, Insists Education Remains Free.

The Lagos State Government has pushed back against claims that it introduced a N20,000 education tax for parents seeking to enrol their children in public schools, maintaining that basic education remains free across the state. The clarification came from the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District II, Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Omotayo Sanni, during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Zumratul Islamiyyah Smart Primary School in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, on Monday. Sanni's comments followed remarks from former Minister of Works, Adeseye Ogunlewe, who had appealed to the government not to introduce what he called an education tax. "You said we should be paying education tax. We don't want it. It's free education that we want. You said it should be N20,000. We don't have it," Ogunlewe said. A former Lagos State Commissioner for Agriculture and Cooperatives, Chief Asipa Olusanya, echoed similar concerns at the event, urging the government to keep education free and warning that even a seemingly small levy could push more children out of school. "You may think that N20,000 education levy is small, but some families cannot raise N20,000. They even find it very hard to eat. And if you don't remove that tax, it will increase the number of out-of-school children," he said. Responding, Sanni firmly rejected the existence of any such tax, explaining that the requirement in question was simply for parents to present their tax clearance certificates during school registration — a standard civic procedure, not a fee tied to education access. "There is nothing like education tax in Lagos State... It is just that once you have your tax certificate, which is expected of you, and you present it at the point of registering your child, you will register and they will not ask you to pay any money," he said, adding that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu remains firmly committed to free and inclusive education. Sanni also praised the Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Area for undertaking the smart school project, describing it as a significant investment in preparing children with 21st-century skills. Also speaking at the event, Babajimi Benson, member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, pledged continued support for improving access to quality education in the area. The Adeboruwa of Igbogbo Kingdom, Oba Abdulsemiu Kasali, commended the local council chairman for the initiative and acknowledged President Bola Tinubu's support for development projects in the community. Earlier at the event, Chairman of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hammed Aroyewun, said the project, a two-year initiative to build a 30-classroom smart primary school, is designed to equip pupils with technological skills from an early age, blending technology, creativity and sustainability to prepare them for the future. The groundbreaking also coincided with celebrations marking Aroyewun's first year in office.