Schools, hotels and hospitals were sealed up by the Benue State Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) on Monday over tax evasion and non-filing of annual tax returns.
According to reports, Emmanuel Agema, the acting Chairman of BIRS, who led his team on the operation, explained that the exercise was done to ensure compliance in paying taxes for the state development.
Agema, alongside some security operatives and members of the BIRS enforcement team, shut down Emory Specialist Hospital, Vincal Pharmacy, Graceland Suites, City Hospital, Peniel College, ECWA Secondary School, Rose Asase schools, New Hotel Lucia and River Side Hotel, all in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
The BIRS chairman, through his media aide, Jacintha Bernard, noted that the sealing off of the facilities was necessary due to the non-filing of annual returns and non-remittance of due taxes to the state government by the affected organisations over a period of time, even after a series of notices and reminders, adding that the state Chief Judge, Justice Maurice Ikpambese, in compliance with the Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax Act 2011 and Section 41(1)(3)(4) of the Benue State Internal Revenue Law 2022 issued a warrant to seal the named organisations.
The chairman further reiterated his firm commitment towards adopting legal measures, which include compliance enforcement and other regulatory actions to ensure that taxpayers do not default.