The Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, RIRS, has sealed the head office of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, at Aba road in Port Harcourt for alleged tax invasion.
Leader of the tax enforcement Agency, Markson Ndibo said the NDDC had failed to remit tax to the state government from 2014 till date, which he claimed amounts to N1.8b.
Ndibo said the operation followed a valid court order obtained by the state government.
Ndibo said the state government had approached the court when the commission failed to allow the government access to necessary documents.
Reacting to the action, Deputy Director Cooperate Affairs Commission of NDDC, Chijioke Amu-Nnadi faulted the claims by the state government that the commission had failed to remit tax owed since 2014.
He said the Commission was surprised by the development, “because the Commission had already begun paying the Revenue Service the arrears under question.
“About two weeks ago, the Commission met with the tax enforcement team and started negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues. We understand that there is a court order. But it’s important for us to state that the Commission, as a responsible corporate organisation, had begun to attend to all obligations as agreed.
“Last week, the Commission paid the first tranche. They will receive the next tranche this week. This is a sign of goodwill and commitment on the side of the Commission to meet these obligations.
“It is very surprising that even though we have begun paying these arrears dating back to 2013, which the current board inherited, we still have to deal with this little impasse. And mind you, over the past two years, the current Board has paid all the Commission’s tax obligations as at when due.”
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