By Daniel Tyokua
The chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Mr. Christopher Maikalangu has given tax defaulters two month ultimatum to offset their debts.
Briefing journalists in the secretariat on Wednesday, he said government at all levels works better when Internally generated Revenue is paid by citizens especially, when payments are made and collected without hitches.
Maikalangu, who said tax defaulters to pay off before end of July, 2024, explained that most of the residents, especially traders pay tax into wrong hands and accounts instead of the approved ones.
“As a responsible government, it is our duty to inform our residents that tax evasion is a serious offence and a crime that deprives the Council of much-needed revenue that could be used to provide basic amenities and infrastructure in our communities”
The chairman also advised those who have not paid their tenement rates to AMAC, since 2021 till date, to pay in order to avoid legal action.
According to him, “For those that will try to evade the taxes, the council has no other option other than institute a legal action on any defaulter who refuses to comply with this measure.
On the issue of tenement rates, “I want to advise those that have not paid their bill since 2021 till date to go and pay to avoid legal action.
“I also want to inform those that paid into a wrong account or paid to your accomplices, or paid cash. It is assumed that you have not paid at all and you will pay twice.”
Maikalangu solicited for more cooperation from all residents within the council to discharge their civic responsibility by promptly paying their revenue/taxes/levies to designated AMAC accounts.
He said the area council is working towards digitilising it’s revenue collection system effect from 2025, to avoid the negative activities of touts and fake revenue collectors.
The chairman explained that AMAC has made efforts to rearrange and reorganise the activities of it’s revenue collectors, especially those who stand on the roads.
He said, “We are trying to come up with a method so that you will not see any AMAC revenue collector standing on the road.
“This is because we are living in the city, so we need to do things in a digital way. By the grace of God, I am assuring you that before the end of the year, you will not see any AMAC revenue collector standing on the road.”
Maikalangu added that the council has adopted a very severe measure to curb the excesses of these tax evaders, adding that the council would give residents the opportunity to voluntarily go and pay their levies and taxes that they did not pay from 2021 till date.
He continued, “Let me reemphasize that the general public are advised not to pay cash to any Technical Partner or their representative to avoid paying to illegal revenue collectors.
“I want to inform the revenue fraudsters that their days are numbered, the AMAC Revenue Task Force has been authorised to clamp down their activities, apprehend and prosecute them immediately at the nearest mobile court.
“The general public is advised to confirm properly before entering into any business with them. There is no hiding place for illegality as our Revenue Task Force will continue to go round and verify all evidence of payment.”
