Kogi State Government has given a 7 day grace to mining Companies operating in the state to offset their tax liabilities or face sanctions.
The State Government
gave the ultimatum to Mining Companies operating in the State at a meeting held on Tuesday in Lokoja .
The meeting which was presided over by the Director State Security Services Kogi State , had in attendance, the Commissioner of Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, Engr Abubakar Bashir Gegu, Commissioner for Environment, Mr Joseph Oluwasegun, Chairman, Kogi State Internal Revenue Services KGIRS, Alh SALIHU Enehe and about 20 mining Companies MD/CEO and their representatives .
Speaking to newsmen ,after the meeting , Engr. Bashiru Gegu, Commissioner For Solid Minerals and Natural Resources, said, henceforth , government has directed that Haulage fees and other taxes must be paid to Kogi State Internal Revenue Services.
“Any Company that failed to pay the haulage and other taxes to KGIRS risk doing business in the State if found to have paid to any individual or organisation aside KGIRS”.
The meeting which also centred on the harmonization of all revenue accrued to companies or individual, the Commissioner said, “Companies have been directed to pay to KGIRS alone”.
The Commissioner added that “KGIRS may choose to source out the collections of taxes to consultants, but however add that citizens must confirm with the KGIRS the legality of the operation of any consultancy firm that is on the field from KGIRS before engaging them in any financial dealings”.
The Security Agencies at the meeting, made up of the DSS, Police, assured of an enabling environment for Miners to operate, but advised them to obey the laws regulating their activities in the State.
They equally called on them to be prompt in the payment of royalties to Federal Government and the State Government in terms of revenue.