The Proprietor of Authentic Royal Preparatory School, Benin City, Edo State, Dr Godsent Erhumwunse, has protested against the revocation of his school’s operational licence by the Edo State Government.

DAILY POST reports that the school proprietor, who also serves as the State Controller of the Association of Formidable Education Development, AFED, described the government’s action as vendetta.

Erhumwunse maintained that the school had met all requirements and was duly approved by the state government.

It will be recalled that AFED is a member of the Coalition of Association of Private Schools, CAPS, which on September 16, 2025, protested against what it described as excessive taxation imposed on them by the state government.

At a one-day consultative town hall meeting in Benin City, the group also faulted the government’s directive on the transition from formal to skills-based education.

Speaking to newsmen on Friday in Benin City in reaction to the licence revocation, the proprietor alleged that the closure order came without prior notice from the government.

According to him, “my school meets all requirements and was approved by the state government.

“This is not about a school that did not meet the standard. It is about a person who said that nobody can talk to him. He is the Alpha and Omega of education in Edo State.

“This is what we find when you are a non-educationalist and a Commissioner in charge of education.

“I have all my documents. The approval, tax and renewal. They are all up to date. Today is a vendetta, the Commissioner has targeted me. I want him to know there is God on the throne.

“This is a low-cost school where many pupils and students are on scholarships. Instead of the government assisting us, they are crushing us.”

DAILY POST further reports that the Edo State Commissioner of Education, Dr Paddy Iyamu, had earlier in the day ordered the closure of the school over alleged non-compliance with the relevant requirements of the ministry.

The directive was enforced by the Director of Planning and Statistics, Gabriel Orire, who led other officers of the ministry and the Edo State task force for the protection of government property.

Orire alleged that the order followed findings by the ministry that the school fell short of minimum requirement standards, particularly in the areas of health and safety conditions.

He also claimed there was inadequate infrastructure for effective teaching and learning in the school.

“The revocation directive read in part, ‘these deficiencies possess serious risk to the welfare of pupils and students, and contravenes the operational guidelines for private schools in the State.

“In the light of the foregoing, the earlier approval granted to Authentic Royal Preparatory School is hereby revoked with immediate effect. Consequently, the school is directed to suspend academic activities forthwith until identified deficiencies are fully addressed and clearance is obtained from the ministry.

“The Commissioner for Education assures that the Ministry of Education remains committed to ensuring quality and safe learning environments across schools in Edo State,” he said.

School proprietor protests Edo govt’s revocation of operational licence