Benue Gov’t seals hospitals, schools over tax evasion

The Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) on Monday sealed up schools, hotels and hospitals over tax evasion and non filing of annual tax returns.

The acting Chairman of BIRS, Emmanuel Agema who led his team on the operation, said that the exercise was done in a bid to ensure compliance in the payment of taxes for the state development.

Agema, alongside some security operatives and members of the BIRS enforcement team, shut down Emory Specialist hospital, Vincal pharmacy, Graceland suites, City hospital, Peniel college, ECWA secondary school, Rose Asase schools, New Hotel Lucia and River Side Hotel all in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.

The BIRS chairman through his media aide, Jacintha Bernard, noted that the sealing off of the facilities were necessary due to non filing of annual returns and non remittance of due taxes to the state government by the affected organisations over a period of time, even after series of notices and reminders.

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He explained that the state Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese,  in compliance with the Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 and Section 41(1)(3)(4) of the Benue State Internal Revenue Law 2022 issued a warrant to seal the named organisations.

The chairman further reiterated his firm commitment towards adapting legal measures which include compliance enforcement and other regulatory actions to ensure that tax payers do not default.

He maintained that the operation remained continuous to ensure full compliance in all local government areas of the state, calling on all tax payers, businesses, individuals and organisations to fulfil their civil obligations by complying with tax authorities and remitting necessary taxes due to them as it will no longer be business as usual.

Agema emphasised that since the government was fulfilling its own responsibility of paying salaries, gratuities, pension and executing sustainable developmental projects which stimulate economic activities in the state, tax defaulters should ensure to pay their taxes when due for government to embark on more projects for the development of the state and the benefit of every Benue citizen.