A teacher can finally enjoy tax exemption following the intervention of the Commission in a complaint against the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).
According to Mr. Joseph Onunda–an employee of TSC who is living with permanent disability–he had been enjoying tax exemption which the Ombudsman helped him secure in April 2016 after a five year wait. The tax relief renewal was set for April 2021, however, in October 2019 TSC decided to withdraw the exemption without giving reasons for the decision. The decision prompted him to write to TSC twice but he did not receive any response.
Mr. Onunda visited the TSC headquarters and was asked to provide original copies of the identification card, a copy of the current original introduction letter to TSC by the National Council of Persons with Disability (NCPWD) and registration card from the NCPWD among other documents which he submitted in January 2020. He was promised that his tax exemption would be reinstated in February 2020. However, by May 2020 the same had not been processed making it hard for him to meet his financial obligations. The delay by the TSC to process the tax exemption request impelled Mr. Onunda to lodge a complaint with the Commission in May 2020.
The Commission took up the matter with the Chief Executive Officer of TSC leading to the reinstatement of the tax exemption effective 1st July 2020. Mr. Onunda, in a letter to the Commission, expressed his gratitude thus:
“I am very happy to inform you that TSC reinstated my tax exemption in July 2020 and I must sincerely thank you for your continued effort that made it a success.”
