The Delta Board of Internal Revenue (DBIR) on Friday sealed 12 companies, hotels and schools in Warri, over tax liabilities.
According to Joel Ogege, DBIR’s Director (Enforcement and Compliance), the companies were shut over accumulated Personal Income Tax liabilities totaling more than N10 million.
Ogege, who led the team, said that the tax liabilities ranged from between N500,000 to N3 million.
“We were left with no option after the defaulters ignored several notices, including Court orders,” he said.
He said that the exercise was smooth except in one company where his team encountered resistance.
The official said that it was unlawful to resist a government order or harass revenue officials, and declared that the matter would be taken to court.
He said that the exercise was continuous, stressing that no defaulter would be spared.
Among outfits sealed were oil and gas firms, private schools, supermarkets and hotels.
Due to dwindling oil prices and renewed militancy in the South South region of Nigeria, federal allocations to Nigerian states have reduced sharply. Many states are turning to internally generated revenue to run public services.
The Muhammadu Buhari-led federal government has struggled with relations with the people of the South South, the home of the Niger Delta, the owners of the oil and gas resources in the country.
President Buhari cast the tone for his relationship with the troubled oil region when a few weeks after his inauguration on May 29, 2015 he said that areas that gave him 5% votes (the South East and the South South), should not expected to be treated the same as areas that gave him 97% of the votes (North East and North West).
He has followed through his policy of marginalisation by attacking leaders – political, business, and traditional – from the Niger Delta. One of his early presidential orders was that the stipends to former Niger Delta militants who were under the Amnesty Programme be stopped.
