The Ekiti State Government has sealed off the business premises of some banks and GSM service providers over the non-payment of Business Premises Tax to the state government.
According to the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperatives, Mr Michael Ayodele, the affected business outfits owed the state government money running into millions of naira.
Ayodele, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said some of the affected firms had not paid the said tax in the last three years.
The commissioner, who led officials of his ministry to seal off the affected business premises, said the government took the action following repeated warnings to the organisations to fulfil their financial obligations to the state.
He wondered why corporate bodies, making a lot of money from the state, would find it difficult to fulfil their civic obligations to the state.
“People and business outfits must be alive to their civic responsibilities. It is not good when an organisation operates in a state and makes money and refuses to pay the necessary taxes to the state government.
“We all know that the current economic realities require the blocking of all financial leakages and looking inward for the government to generate funds. The administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose is delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state and it is money the government needs to execute its programmes and we appeal to all to cooperate and pay levies, taxes and dues promptly and fully,” he said.
He added that the state government would not hesitate to seal off any erring firm in the state.
Among the firms affected were Unity Bank along Adebayo Road, Etisalat, Airtel and Glo corporate offices.
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