By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Government on Wednesday defended the sealing off of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) offices across Ibadan by men of its board of internal revenue
According to a statement by the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun, IBDEC has been owing revenues totalling over N400 million in the last two years.
Dr Olatubosun said Oyo state government approached the High Court of Justice in Ibadan to seek an order to seal off the premises of IBEDC because the company has been ignoring bills served it by the men of the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue Service for the past two years.
Emphasizing that IBEDC has never in any of their communication with the government revenue agency, objected to the claim of the figure owed, Dr Olatubosun said the IBEDC’s indifference towards the settlement of the bill necessitated the locking and sealing of its major offices in the state.
” It is important for everyone to remember that it is the duty of all, individuals and businesses, to pay taxes and levies. Without these payments, the government cannot provide basic necessities and perform necessary functions. Therefore, IBEDC like any other business interest, should do the needful and meet its revenue obligations,” he said.
The Commissioner added, ” this is the stand of the government and we seek the understanding of the people not to be misled by those who trade in falsehood,”
Dr Olatubosun pointed out that documents from the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue Services have shown that bills were served on IBEDC in the past two years (2020-2021) which they have ignored, adding, “!IBEDC never objected to owing accumulated bills, which led the State to seek a legal solution and the High Court of Justice gave the government the warrant to seal off their premises in order to enforce payment, as provided for in Section 45 (3&4) of the Revenue Administration Law of Oyo State.
The Commissioner gave the breakdown of the IBDEC accumulated bills as *Harmonised bill N139,440,000.00
* Infrastructure bill N122,590,000.00* Tax Audit bill N116,516,111.41 “Signage bill N22,000,000.00.All totalling N400,546,111.41 (Four Hundred Million, Five Hundred and Forty-Six Thousand, One Hundred and Eleven Naira, Forty-One Kobo).
Dr Olatubosun then appealed to other business interests within the State to tow the path of honour by meeting up their obligation to the State government in the area of tax and other revenue payments without being forced.
