The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), has warned associations illegally collecting tax in Edo state to desist from doing such as they are not authorized by law to act in such capacity.
Venting his displeasure In a statement, EIRS Executive Chairman, Igbinidun Inneh said, “Management of Edo State Internal Revenue Service, has been drawn to the illegal activities of some individuals, groups and associations operating under the names of National Freight Haulage Association and Nigeria Association of Agricultural Product Dealers, claiming to be representatives of some Federal Government Agencies especially the Federal Ministries of Transport and Agriculture.”
Inneh said that It had been discovered that these unrecognized associations/bodies engaged in the illegal collection of revenue from unsuspecting members of the public particularly
haulage and freight truck drivers at various locations in Edo State.
For emphasis, he drew attention to Edo State Governor’s New Year’s message of January 1, 2017, wherein the governor prohibited all forms of revenue collections by nongovernment officials on all roads within the state.
Inneh maintained that the Taxes and Levies Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, Section 2 (2) disallowed any person, including a tax authority from mounting road blocks in any part of the Federation, for the purpose of collecting Tax or Levy.
Clarifying on the subject, the EIRS Chief stated, “Let it be known that the persons authorized to collect revenue for the state and local government councils in the state, are staff of Edo State Internal Revenue Service and Local Government Councils.”
He advised the general public particularly haulage and freight truck drivers not to transact with anybody other than staffers of EIRS and Local Government Councils.
In addition, he warned those involved in the mounting of road blocks and collection of illegal revenue to desist as security agencies have been informed to arrest and prosecute any individual or group found wanting, in accordance with relevant extant Laws.