The Acting Chairman of Kogi State Internal Revenue Service, KGIRS, Sule Salihu Enehe on Wednesday in Lokoja said that Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has no business in the Tax clearance and advertisement of political parties Billboard charges in the State.
The Acting Chairman while making the clarification following the allegation by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party that the law was a design to stifle the Party in the State, refuted the claim that the law has a target, disclosed that the law is in effect in the State with notice of implementation served to the concerned stakeholders.
Enehe at the press briefing denied the allegation that Gov. Yahaya Bello is using the Revenue Service to intimidate other political parties particularly the PDP in the state as unfortunate and a misrepresentation of the truth.
The Chairman pointed out that the action of the revenue service has a constitutional backing, saying “Section 85 (2) of Personal Income Tax, 2021 as amended, vested the power to verify tax clearance certificate on the issuing tax authority”.
He disclosed that obtaining a tax clearance through misrepresentation, forgery, falsification, according to the law is guilty of an offence and such offender is liable for prosecution, said as the issuing authority, the KGIRS is out to carry out verification on such claims.
“The Kogi State Government through the state house of assembly passed the law tagged “Kogi state of Nigeria a law to provide for the regulation of outdoor structures for the display of signage, hoarding and advertisements in Kogi state and for other matters connected therewith 2022”
The Acting Chairman who stated that the law was assented to by Governor Yahaya Bello in September, 2022, noted that the law empowered KGIRS to enforce it, assured that no one will be spared by the agency not minding the foul cry of the PDP where non exist.
“Therefore for any body or organization to come out now and claim that Kogi state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello brought the law to witch-hunt opposition parties in the state is ruse and far from truth” he said.
The Acting Chairman explained that just like the notice was served to the opposition PDP, it was equally served to all the registered political parties in the State, including the ruling APC.
The Chairman added that the same notice was served to Ministry’s, Department and Agencies, described as frivolous that the implementation of the law was targeted at the opposition PDP.
The Chairman disclosed that while a window still remains open for complain from the date of receipt of the notice, assured of transparency in all the Organization’s dealing.
The Acting Chairman assured of the implementation of the tax laws as stated by the laws but with human face, urged those with complain to approach the Service, pointing out that the doors of the Service is open for discussion, cautioned against dragging the service into politics as it would not allow such in carrying out its statutory function.