The Kogi government has declared that the presentation of parents’ tax clearance certificates will now be a mandatory condition for admission into tertiary institutions in the state.

Sule Enehe, the chairman of the Kogi Board of Internal Revenue Services, addressed journalists on the policy in Lokoja on Wednesday.

Enehe said it was introduced two years ago at the Prince Abubakar Audu University in Ayingba and Federal University Lokoja to shore up the revenue profile of the state.

NAN reports that the policy has generated some controversy, with CSOs and activists threatening to challenge it in court.

Enehe, while defending the policy, said it had good intentions.

“The decision of the Kogi government to compel students to present parents’ TCC at the point of registration is in accordance with the law,” he said.

“Section 24(f) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria states that every citizen should declare his or her income and endeavour to pay tax to the government.

“By the provisions of section 96 on Personnel income tax, anyone that fails to pay tax shall be face prosecution.”

The revenue service chairman expressed surprise that the public only got to know about the policy this year.

He said the service had issued a memo to the secretary of the state government two years earlier.

“It is for the good of the people and crucial to the progress of the state. What people don’t know is the huge financial burden on the state government which runs three universities, aside from other tertiary institutions,” he added.

Christ Mitots School in Ikorodu Lagos has suspended the teacher filmed assaulting a toddler in a numeracy class.

Earlier, a video surfaced on social media showing a primary school teacher violently smacking a toddler for failing in a numeracy lesson.

The female teacher, who tutors at Christ Mitots School in the Ikorodu suburb of Lagos, was subsequently arrested after public outrage.

In a statement responding to the matter, the school authority expressed its concerns over the viral footage.

The management described the teacher’s action as “unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school”.
It said the teacher has been suspended indefinitely until an investigation is finalised.

“We are aware of a deeply troubling incident involving one of our teachers and a student, which has been circulating on social media,” the school’s statement reads in part.

“The video shows a teacher engaging in the physical discipline of a student in a manner that is completely unacceptable and contrary to the values and principles of our school.

“As an institution deeply committed to fostering a culture of respect, care, and dignity, we are horrified by this incident and wish to make unequivocally clear that such actions will not be tolerated.

“In response, the teacher involved has been suspended indefinitely while a thorough investigation is conducted.

“This immediate and decisive action reflects our zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct and our obligation to safeguard the safety and well-being of every child under our care.

“We extend our sincerest apologies to the student and their family. We have reached out to them personally to express our regret, after cur support, and ensure that their needs are fully addressed during this time.

“In light of this incident, we are taking firm steps to ensure that such behaviour is never repeated. As such, we will be organizing mandatory training sessions for teachers to reinforce child protection protocols, emphasize positive disciplinary practices, and cultivate greater sensitivity in interactions with students.

“Additionally, we have introduced a confidential whistle-blowing system to encourage the prompt reporting of inappropriate behaviour.

“We ask for the public’s patience and understanding as we work to address this matter responsibly and comprehensively.”

Tai Solarin University of Education Alumni Association has presented scholarships to six best 200-level students picked from the six colleges of the university.

The alumni equally warned the newly matriculated students of the university to prioritise excellent academic pursuit and shun all forms of distraction and negative tendencies, including cultism, examination malpractices, and drug abuse, among other vices that could make a shipwreck of the glorious future ahead of them.

The National President of TASUED Alumni, Bolaji Oladeji, disclosed this in a statement sent to journalists on Thursday.

Oladeji said that the alumni actually initiated the scholarships, which cover the tuition fee of the beneficiaries to reward hard work and instil a reading culture and pursuit of academic excellence into the life of the undergraduates

The Alumni President presented the scholarships to the undergraduates during the matriculation of the newly admitted students held on Wednesday.

However, the president urged the freshmen students to shun vices like cultism, examination malpractices, and drug abuse and instead make excellent academic pursuits their watchword.

The statement partly read, “The Alumni Association of Tai Solarin University of Education has awarded scholarships to six undergraduate students across the university’s six colleges.

“The scholarship, which covers full tuition for each of the best 200-level students in each college, was presented by the National President of the association, Mr Oladeji Bolaji Julius, at the matriculation ceremony of the university held on January 8, 2025, at the University Auditorium.

“While presenting the award, the president noted that the scholarship scheme is an established legacy and initiative of the alumni, to stimulate reading culture and serve as a reward model for academic excellence among undergraduate students.

“The President used the occasion to congratulate the newly matriculated students.

“He advised the newly admitted students to shun cultism, substance abuse, examination malpractices, and other illicit behaviours that are capable of bringing their family names and that of the university into disrepute.”