Private School Owners In Katsina Kick Against Govt New Policies, Say:  “We Are Not Bandits, We Carry Chalk, Not Guns”

By Ayodele Oni

The Katsina State branch of the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has accused the State Government of frustrating operation of private schools, following series of new policies introduced by the  government.

It warned that the measures could cripple private education and jeopardise the future of thousands of pupils.

Katsina State, government had announced the revocation of the operational licences of all private and community schools across the state with immediate effect.

This was contained in a circular issued by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Zainab Musa-Musawa, and released to newsmen in Katsina on Saturday by the Ministry ’s Public Relations Officer, Sani Danjuma.

“The ministry hereby notifies the public, proprietors and administrators of all private and community schools that all previously issued licences have been terminated effective August 13, 2025,” she stated.

According to the Commissioner, the decision followed the approval of the State Executive Council as part of ongoing reforms in the education sector.

The commissioner explained that the reforms were aimed at ensuring quality assurance, standardization and effective regulation of teaching and learning across the state.

Speaking during a press briefing on Monday at the in Katsina, the Chairman of NAPPS, Sani Jibiya, described the government’s new regulations as “harsh, discriminatory and catastrophic.”

Mr. Jibiya highlighted at least six contentious provisions in the new education policy, which are detrimental to smooth operation of private schools in the state.

According to him, Private schools that had previously bought registration forms from past administrations are being compelled to buy new ones, effectively nullifying earlier payments while already licensed schools are being forced to undergo fresh registration, a process Jibiya likened to “asking a university student to re-register midway through their degree.”

“Annual Levy on School Fees: The policy demands that schools remit 3% of every child’s annual school fees to government coffers. Proprietors argue this is unfair, as no other private sector in the state, including hospitals, restaurants or petrol stations, faces such levies.”

On hike in License Fees, he pointed out that “Registration fees have been categorised into ₦250,000 for urban schools, ₦175,000 for semi-urban, and ₦100,000 for rural schools, in addition to a controversial ₦200,000 ‘upgrade fee.’

“Five-Year License Expiry: Licenses of private schools will now expire every five years, forcing institutions to reapply or risk operating illegally—even while students are still enrolled.

“Ban on Tuition Fee Increase: Schools are forbidden from increasing fees by a kobo without explicit approval from the Commissioner of Education, a directive Jibiya described as ‘a draconian order not seen even under military rule.’

Jibiya said the measures would devastate private schools, many of which are already struggling under harsh economic conditions, insecurity and inflation.

“As I speak, many of our schools could not pay July salaries. We employ over 14,000 teaching and non-teaching staff and educate more than 500,000 pupils across 1,400 schools. Forcing us to pay these levies without allowing us to adjust fees means certain collapse,” he warned.

He further alleged that the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Hajiya Zainab Musa Musawa, had consistently refused to meet with the association and instead resorted to intimidation.

“We call her ‘Her Majesty’ because she shouts and dictates. She never granted us an audience despite several letters and reminders. At one point, she threatened to shut down our schools, accusing us of being money-makers and even non-indigenes,” Jibiya claimed.

“The association has called on Governor Mallam Dikko Umaru Radda, PhD, CON to urgently intervene and save the sector from collapse.

“If private schools shut down, over half a million children will suffer and their academic records may be lost forever. This is not just about proprietors, it is about the future of Katsina’s children.

“We are not bandits. We carry chalk, not guns. We support government by reducing insecurity through education and creating jobs. All we ask for is fairness and dialogue, not intimidation.”

NAPPS revealed that its national leadership has been briefed and is considering legal redress if the state government insists on enforcing the policy within the 29-day deadline.