BREAKING: NANS Gives Osun Internal Revenue Service Seven Days to Address Alleged Student Tax Extortion

The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, Southwest Zone D, has given the Osun Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) seven days to address allegations of duplicate tax-clearance payments imposed on students in the state.

The students’ body, in a joint press statement dated October 20, 2026, alleged that affected students were being asked to pay between ₦8,000 and ₦10,000, with some reportedly facing repeated payment demands despite their parents’ existing tax records.

NANS threatened to organise peaceful protests and picketing at the revenue service and other relevant locations if the agency failed to provide a satisfactory response by October 27.

The statement was jointly signed by the zone’s coordinator, Comrade Adeyemo Josiah Kayode, popularly known as Billioncodes, and Assistant General Secretary, Comrade Abubakar Musefiu D, also known as Golden Son.

According to the association, its position followed a fact-finding exercise, a review of a petition and reports submitted by NANS Joint Campus Committee (JCC), Osun State, and engagements with affected students.

The association said its findings provided substantial grounds for some of the complaints raised, adding that the allegations required explanations, transparent accounting and urgent measures to protect students.

NANS called on the Acting Chairman of OIRS, Alhaji Solanke Hamzat, to explain the legal basis for the disputed charges, the approved rates and the circumstances under which students who reportedly presented evidence of previous compliance were asked to make fresh payments.

The association also raised concerns about delays in verifying parental tax records, alleging that some students were unable to complete their registration while verification remained pending but could proceed after making another payment.

It said students should not be required to pay again simply because an existing parental tax record had not been processed.

NANS Asks Students to Suspend Disputed Payments

The association directed affected students to suspend payment of the disputed tax-clearance charges pending clarification and resolution of the complaints.

However, it clarified that the directive did not cover tuition fees or other school charges that were not in dispute.

NANS also demanded that OIRS and the affected institutions suspend enforcement of the disputed charges and allow students with unresolved verification complaints to continue their academic processes.

It warned against possible academic penalties, intimidation or victimisation of students who raised complaints over the payments.

The association urged affected students to preserve payment receipts, portal screenshots and payment demands and submit them through their respective Students’ Union leaderships to NANS JCC Osun.

It further warned that officials, management representatives or collection agents found to have knowingly facilitated duplicate or unauthorised payments would be reported to the appropriate authorities.

Five Demands Issued to OIRS

NANS listed five demands it wants the revenue service to address within the seven-day period.

They include the disclosure of the legal basis, approved rates, revenue codes and assessment procedures for the disputed charges.

The association also demanded an institution-by-institution and academic-session breakdown of collections, including details of the roles played by agents, consultants and technology providers.

Other demands include the resolution of pending parental tax verification cases, the provision of alternatives where electronic verification fails, and the reconciliation of payment records.

NANS said payments established to be duplicate, excessive or unauthorised should be refunded.

It also requested written assurances that affected students would not face academic penalties, intimidation or retaliation for raising concerns.

The association said failure to take meaningful action within the stipulated period would lead to coordinated peaceful protests and picketing at OIRS and other relevant locations.

It added that preparations for the planned action would be coordinated through NANS JCC Osun and campus leaderships, with the protests conducted peacefully and emergency access maintained.

Adeleke, Assembly Urged to Intervene

The students’ body called on Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, the state House of Assembly and relevant oversight authorities to intervene in the matter.

It also copied the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, officials responsible for finance and education, the Accountant-General and Auditor-General, and the House of Assembly committees responsible for finance and education.

Other institutions listed in the statement included the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the Nigeria Police Force and the Department of State Services.

NANS said it supported lawful taxation but would resist what it described as exploitation through administrative requirements.

The association also called for the correction of established irregularities and effective remedies for affected students.

As of the issuance of the statement, a response from OIRS to the allegations and demands was not included in the material made available for this report. The agency’s position on the disputed charges remains necessary for a fuller account of the matter.