Why we sealed IBEDC offices – Oyo govt

The Oyo State Government has explained why it decided to close some Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company offices (IBEDC).

TELEVISION The state government had previously sealed all of IBEDC’s major offices in the state, according to NIGERIAN.

On Wednesday, the state government sealed the offices through the Oyo State Bureau of Internal Revenue Service.

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In its defense, IBEDC claimed that the state government shut down its offices because it (IBEDC) cut off the power to the government secretariat.

Engineer John Ayodele, Chief Operating Officer of IBEDC, explained in a statement to TELEVISION NIGERIAN on Wednesday that the state government owed the company N450 million in unpaid consumption over a three-year period.
But, the state government has said that it sealed the offices due to accumulated revenue bills.

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, while responding, said that the government sealed the offices because the company
has been owing revenues totalling over N400 million naira.

Olatubosun in a statement made available to TELEVISION NIGERIAN on Wednesday, insisted that the company has been owing the money in the last two years.

He added that the offices were sealed because of the outstanding revenues and not because the company disconnected the government secretariat.

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He said that the government approached the High Court of Justice in Ibadan to seek an order to seal off the offices of the company.

He explained further that the company has been ignoring bills served by the men of the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue Service for the past two years.

He spoke further by saying that the “accumulated bills as follows: Harmonised bills, N139,440,000.00, Infrastructure bills N122,590,000.00, Tax Audit bills N116,516,111.41 and Signage bills N22,000,000.00”.

Olatunbosun while speaking further added that the refusal of the company to pay the outstanding revenues made the state government to seal the offices.

He said, “The company has never in any of their communication with the government revenue agency, objected to the claim of the figure owed.

“It is important for everyone to remember that it is the duty of all, individuals and businesses, to pay taxes and levies. Without these payments, the government cannot provide basic necessities and perform necessary functions.

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“Therefore, IBEDC, like any other business interest, should do the needful and meet its revenue obligations.

“This is the stand of the government and we seek the understanding of the people not to be misled by those who trade in falsehood.”