The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Southwest Zone D, has accused the Osun State Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) of allegedly subjecting students in state-owned tertiary institutions to duplicate tax-clearance charges.
The association demanded an explanation from the agency and threatening peaceful protests if its concerns are not addressed within seven days.
The association alleged that affected students were being asked to pay between ₦8,000 and ₦10,000 for tax clearance despite presenting evidence that their parents had fulfilled their tax obligations.
According to NANS, some students have also encountered delays in the verification of their parents’ tax records, leaving their registration processes stalled until they make fresh payments.
The student body described the alleged practice as a source of concern, particularly where students are under pressure to meet academic registration deadlines and risk losing access to essential academic processes.
In a joint statement issued on Tuesday, October 20, the Zonal Coordinator of NANS Southwest Zone D, Comrade Adeyemo Kayode, and the Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Abubakar Musefiu, said a fact-finding exercise conducted by the zone had reinforced concerns earlier raised by the NANS Joint Campus Council (JCC), Osun Chapter.
The JCC had reportedly submitted a petition to OIRS on October 8, seeking clarification on the disputed charges and the difficulties students were experiencing in verifying their parents’ tax record.
NANS said its investigation uncovered complaints from students who claimed that their registration remained pending while the revenue service verified existing tax records, but that making a fresh payment enabled them to proceed without similar delays.
The association argued that, if established, such a practice would raise serious questions about transparency, accountability and the treatment of students navigating academic deadlines.
It therefore called on the Acting Chairman of OIRS, Alhaji Solanke Hamzat, to explain the legal basis for the collections, the approved rates, the categories of persons required to pay and the justification for demanding fresh payments from students who had already presented evidence of their parents’ tax compliance.
Pending the resolution of the dispute, NANS directed affected students in Osun State institutions to suspend payment of the disputed tax-clearance charges.
However, it expressly clarified that the directive did not extend to tuition fees or other legitimate, undisputed institutional charges.
The association also called on the affected institutions and the revenue service to ensure that students experiencing verification difficulties were allowed to continue their academic activities without being denied admission, registration or eligibility to sit examinations.
It urged students to preserve relevant documents, including payment receipts, payment demands and screenshots of registration portals, to support efforts to establish the circumstances surrounding the disputed collections.
Such evidence, it said, should be channeled through the leadership of the respective Students’ Unions to the NANS Joint Campus Council in Osun for collation and further action.
Giving the revenue service seven days to respond, NANS said its ultimatum would expire on October 27, 2026.
It demanded a written response to the October 8 petition and the commencement of a documented process to resolve the complaints.
Among its demands are the disclosure of the applicable revenue laws and approved rates, a breakdown of collections by institution and academic session, the resolution of outstanding verification requests, and the reconciliation of students’ payment records.
The association further demanded refunds for any payments established to have been collected twice or without proper authorisation.
It also insisted the authorities provide written assurances that students who raised complaints would not face academic victimisation or other forms of retaliation.
NANS warned that any official or collection agent found to have facilitated unauthorised or duplicate payments would be reported to the appropriate authorities through formal petitions.
It added that failure to address the issues within the stipulated period could lead to peaceful picketing at OIRS offices and other relevant locations.
The student body also appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke, the Osun State House of Assembly and other relevant oversight bodies to intervene in the dispute and ensure that the concerns raised by students were investigated.
The controversy has placed the spotlight on the administration of tax-clearance procedures affecting students, particularly the need for transparent payment requirements, efficient verification systems and safeguards against unnecessary financial burdens.
While NANS has called for an explanation of the charges and a review of the alleged duplicate collections, the legal basis for the disputed payments and the circumstances surrounding the reported delays in verification remain matters requiring clarification from the revenue service.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from OIRS were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.