By Eunice Orike
A Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has adjourned until April 16, 2026, a suit filed by the National Association of Private School Owners (NAPS) against the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) and the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) over allegations of multiple taxation on private schools.
At Wednesday’s sitting, the court urged all parties to pursue an out-of-court resolution, stressing the importance of dialogue and restraint in addressing the dispute rather than resorting to prolonged litigation.
The case centres on claims by NAPS that private school operators in the Federal Capital Territory are being subjected to overlapping tax demands from both area councils and agencies of the FCTA.
The association argues that the situation has created regulatory confusion and placed undue financial pressure on schools.
Counsel to NAPS, Alexander N. Ogbo, who spoke to journalists after the proceedings, said the matter stemmed from what should ordinarily be handled as a policy issue within the jurisdiction of area councils.
However, he noted that the involvement of FCTA departments has led to duplicative levies on the same institutions.
He warned that the overlap is not only triggering institutional friction but also disrupting academic operations, as school owners struggle to comply with multiple directives from different authorities.
Ogbo described the situation as one in which private schools are caught between competing regulators, calling for a coordinated framework that clearly defines roles and eliminates duplication.
He added that while schools are not opposed to regulation, the current system lacks clarity on which authority takes precedence.
“The issue is not compliance but coordination. There must be a unified approach that removes ambiguity for operators,” he said.
He further indicated that the court is serving as a neutral platform to clarify procedural concerns, particularly around demand notices issued by the FCTA’s health authorities, while reiterating the association’s willingness to settle the matter through constructive engagement.
Also speaking, NAPS President, Rukayat Agboola, emphasised the need for a streamlined regulatory structure, proposing that all directives affecting private schools be routed through a single authority, preferably the education secretariat.
Members of the association who were present at the court echoed concerns over what they described as excessive levies, including a contentious charge reportedly calculated as a percentage of tuition fees per term.
They warned that such measures, alongside threats of sanctions for non-compliance, could undermine the sustainability of private education providers.
The plaintiffs are seeking judicial intervention to halt the alleged multiple taxation regime and compel the relevant authorities to harmonise their fiscal and regulatory responsibilities.
