Ebonyi gives banks seven-day deadline to pay revenue debts

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Ebonyi gives banks seven-day deadline to pay revenue debts

The Ebonyi State government has given commercial banks operating in the state a seven-day ultimatum to remit N4 billion revenue collected on its behalf or have their business premises sealed.

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Emmanuel Onwe, stated this after the Executive Council meeting.

He warned that if the affected banks failed to pay the
debts, they would have their business premises sealed off.

He said: “It appears that banks are taking Ebonyi State for granted. It is, therefore the resolution of the council that the banks have seven days within which those indebted to the state government will be sealed in accordance with the revenue laws.
‘’Therefore, such banks that are still retaining sealed deductions, excess charges, excess deductions, withholding tax, excess interest charges, non-remittance of PAYE and all such debts, totalling over N4 billion, must make immediate remittance or have their business premises sealed.”

He noted that Governor Umahi, who is also chairman of the Council, had proposed that members should approve the sum of N100 million to meet the debt obligations of regular overseas scholarships; and N43 million for the marine students, adding that scholarships to students studying within Nigeria, would be treated in coming days.

On contracts in the state, Onwe said: “The council also reviewed the state of uncompleted contracts across the state and expressed frustration over the contractors’ unserious approach to contract obligations.

‘’Several efforts have been made to bring them to site but most of these contractors have refused to comply. The Council noted that review of the contracts was necessary and that resistance by contractors is a hostile action that would not be ignored by government.

‘’The concerned contractors are given seven days to mobilise their workers to various sites of construction. Those that claimed to be owed by government should show up and negotiate settlement.

“Failing to heed to this gesture of amicable resolution to the matter will leave the government with no option than to press forward to pass the matter to higher authorities. This does not in any way represent the probe of the past administration.’’