Nigerian education news

The Chief Executive Officer, LearnRite International Publishers Limited, Mr. Judeson Ogberaha, has urged the Federal Government to reduce levies and taxes on publishers, saying that books are social products capable of reducing the crime rate in the country.

The publisher also lamented the challenge of piracy as well as the high cost of production.

According to him, publishers spend a huge percentage of profits they make on diesel.

He said, “Publishing is capital-intensive. Over 45 per cent of our profit is spent buying diesel.

“Government needs to know that publishers are helping to solve social problems. Why burden us with taxes? Government should be lenient on writers and publishers because books can reduce crime rate. We have not been victims of piracy because our books do not go to bookshops, but many writers and publishers are having a bad time with pirates.”