Enforcement teams of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) have, in Port Harcourt, sealed off the business premises of 10 companies that defaulted in remitting their taxes to the Federal Government.
Speaking to reporters, the State Coordinator of the FIRS in Rivers, Edo and Delta (otherwise called the RED States), Joel-Onowakpo Thomas, who is leading the enforcement drive, said "the campaign is in line with the directive of the FIRS, Management with clear instructions to seal up all companies that have refused to file returns and have not paid their tax liabilities.
“This exercise being carried out throughout the country will be enforced in all the three states within my jurisdiction starting with Rivers, followed by Edo and Delta. My simple advice to the tax paying public is that they should quickly go to the FIRS office nearest to them to file their returns, reconcile and pay up any outstanding liabilities to avoid unnecessary embarrassment because the administration of Mr. Babatunde Fowler is determined to collect every kobo due to government.
"We want to a stop the lukewarm attitude to paying taxes. Time has changed attitude to payment of taxes must change. Tax is the only sustainable revenue source that can help government meet up with its obligations and must be supported."
As stated by him, “the FIRS is fully determined to utilize all options available to it to recover all liabilities from all defaulting taxpayers that refuse to settle their indebtedness including the arrest of the CEOs and Directors of the defaulting organizations.”
Guardian