Florence Uwaeme
The chairman of Ikwerre Local Government Area, Samuel Nwanosike, has vowed to punish tax defaulters in the LGA.
Nwanosike also called on business owners in Ikwerre LGA to directly deal with the Council through the authorised revenue consultant mandated to collect revenue for the LGA.
The council boss made this disclosure in a press conference held at the Council’s headquarters, Isiokpo, on Tuesday.
The Ikwerre LGA Chairman lampooned those business owners who have refused to pay their revenue to the Council since 2017, adding that some also boycotted the meeting summoned by the Council in regards to revenue payment verification.
According to him, “You will agree with me that some business owners have refused to pay in their revenue to the Council since 2017 till date, rather they choose to take the shortcut by patronising the unauthorised persons which are criminal and immoral.
“If you may recall, that Council has in two different occasions invited all business owners in Ikwerre LGA for their revenue payment verification which was slated for 11th April 2019 and they refused to honour the Council’s invitation, that notwithstanding, another invitation for the same exercise on 16th June 2019 was extended but they also refused to attend.
“However, as a constituted authority, we wish to advise all business owners to deal with the Council directly through the authorised revenue consultant”.
While saying that he is the head of the newly constituted Revenue Verification Committee, Hon Nwanosike asserted that revenue defaulters shall be prosecuted in accordance with the Revenue Bylaw applicable to Ikwerre LGA.
“We want to use this medium to inform all business owners in Ikwerre LGA that a verification committee headed by me, the Executive Chairman, has been constituted and we shall be visiting all those doing business in Ikwerre LGA to verify the receipts of payment from January 2017 to date. So, we implore all business owners to keep all their receipts ready for this exercise. This exercise shall kickoff from 28th of October, 2019 by 11 am.
“We want to warn that henceforth, any revenue defaulter shall be prosecuted in accordance with the revenue bylaws as applicable to Ikwerre LGA”, he stated.
The chairman, however, commended all the business owners in the LGA for choosing to live and do business in Ikwerre LGA, adding that he and his team will continue to do their best by providing the enabling environment for their businesses to thrive.
