Government Secondary School (GSS) Kufang and St. Augustine College have emerged winners in the second edition of the Secondary Schools Debate Competition organized by the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service (PSIRS) as part of activities marking the 2026 Taxpayers Month celebration.
The debate competition, held on Monday at the PSIRS Headquarters in Jos, featured four schools drawn from public and private institutions across the state. Participating schools included Government Secondary School Anglo-Jos, Government Secondary School Kufang, Airforce Military School, and St. Augustine College.
Students engaged in intellectually stimulating debates on key issues related to taxation and national development.
One of the debate topics focused on “The Equity of Universal Participation,” with participants debating the motion that the 2025 tax reform exempting low-income earners from Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) violates the canon of equity by creating a social contract where only a minority funds the state government.
Another motion debated was “Tax Evasion vs Corruption,” where teams argued whether tax evasion poses a greater threat to national development than corruption.
At the end of the competition, GSS Kufang emerged winner in the government schools category while St. Augustine College topped the non-government schools category. Airforce Military School and Government Secondary School Anglo-Jos finished as runners-up.
Announcing the results, the Desk Officer for Debate and Quiz at the Plateau State Ministry of Education, Job Chundusu, commended the students for their impressive performances and encouraged debate coaches to pay closer attention to debate rules, particularly on points of information and engagement techniques.
Following the announcement, the Chairman of the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, Jim Pam Wayas, presented cash prizes of ₦1 million each to the winning schools, while the runners-up received ₦500,000 each. Gift items were also distributed to participating students and their teachers.
Speaking during the event, Wayas said the debate competition was designed to deepen students’ understanding of taxation and public finance beyond classroom theory. According to him, the initiative provides students with an opportunity to interact with professionals in the taxation field and exchange ideas that could inspire future careers.
Secretary to the Plateau State Internal Revenue Service, Mrs. Rehila Olu-Sailas, explained that the debate forms part of activities marking the annual Taxpayers Month, introduced to appreciate taxpayers for their contribution to internally generated revenue in the state.
She said the month-long programme includes recognizing compliant taxpayers, community tax awareness campaigns, and educational outreach. According to her, engaging secondary school students through debates helps introduce tax education early and encourages young people to develop interest in taxation and related careers.
Some of the participating students also shared their excitement after the competition.
A student of Government Secondary School Kufang, Mercy Ejembi, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate, saying the experience was both exciting and inspiring.
“I feel really happy for what just happened. I want to thank God, my parents, my teachers and the organizers of this wonderful event. I also want to encourage other students that they can do even better than us. As long as God is with you, anyone can achieve anything,” she said.
Another participant, Ndam Jacob of St. Augustine College, said the debate has helped broaden his academic interests and inspired him to consider a career path related to economics.
“I am very happy participating in this debate because it has exposed me to go beyond the classroom, to research and think critically about taxation. I initially wanted to study medicine, but this experience has made me develop interest in economics. My advice to other debaters is to keep pushing, stay focused and determined,” he said.
Also speaking, Junior Aircraftman Daniel Auta of Airforce Military School said the competition helped boost his confidence in public speaking.
“This debate has given me the confidence to stand in front of many people and speak. It has helped remove my stage fright. I encourage other students to work hard and stay dedicated because with determination you can achieve success,” he said.
The annual debate competition will continue to serve as a platform for promoting tax education, critical thinking, and civic responsibility among secondary school students across Plateau State.
