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Kogi denies illegal taxation on telcos

By Ibrahim Obansa, Lokoja
31 March 2022   |   3:20 am
Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has denied imposing illegal tax on Globacom and Airtel, two telecom giants operating in the state.

Kogi State Internal Revenue Service (KGIRS) has denied imposing illegal tax on Globacom and Airtel, two telecom giants operating in the state.

The denial of KGIRS came barely 24 hours after the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) had accused the state government of imposing illegal tax on telecoms operators in the state, saying that sealing off their promises could have negative consequences on subscribers in Kogi and neighbouring states.

Acting Executive Chairman, KGIRS, Alhaji Sule Enehe, noted, yesterday, that as an organisation, KGIRS has tremendous respect for the rule of law and will not take any action that will infringe on the rights of individuals and corporate organisations.

His words: “We also maintain cordial relationship with organisations to complement the efforts of government at making Kogi Nigeria’s investment haven.

“KGIRS was in a tax default battle with three major telecom giants, including MTN Nigeria Communication, a situation which MTN responded responsibly by immediately clearing its tax liabilities of N60 million.”

According to him, several demand notices have been sent to the two defaulting telecom companies, but they refused to oblige, stressing that the said liabilities include Globacom defaulting at N300 million unremitted tax liabilities.

The KGIRS boss noted that the one bothering the agency is Social Service Contribution Levy, both individual and corporate, and this is under the extant law of Kogi State Harmonisation Law, 2017.

He, therefore, called on corporate organisations to reciprocate the government’s open-door policy and the conducive environment provided by the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello by paying their taxes as and when due.

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