By Samuel Edu

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For defaulting payment of Personal Income Tax and Land Use Charge, the enforcement team of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS), has sealed off nine business premises in the Ondo North Senatorial District.

The exercise was carried out in Ikare, Arigidi, Ugbe and Owo following an order of a Court.

Head of the enforcement unit, ODIRS, Gregory Afuwape noted that the government of Ondo State was lenient enough with payment of tax, stressing that before the enforcement, the unit launched several avenues have been explored to ensure compliance, all of which he said failed.

“I want to believe that the administration of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu is fair enough to the people of Ondo State in all areas inclusive of tax payment and payment of Land Use Charge.

“We are out on this exercise today on the directive of the court to seal off offices of Personal Income Tax (PIT) defaulters and properties of landlords who have failed to pay their Land Use Charge.

“Payment of tax is mandatory if the people of Ondo State want to continually enjoy infrastructural development and the dividends of democracy.”

Businesses sealed off  include: Romako Store, Ikare with the total deficit of N1,285,999, Ogedengbe Tolani Cocoa Store, Ikare, N707,460, Oladunjiye Oil and Kernel processing plant, Arigidi N685,350, Olori Omotoyinbo Olufunke Store, Ugbe N681,289.

Others include; FEVJERH Nigeria Enterprise, Arigidi N559,414, Ibitoye Akinola Nursery/Primary School, Ikare N280,000, and AV Folajimi Chambers, Ikare N223,944.

Shops and office spaces were sealed in Owo over failure of landlords to pay  the Land Use Charge.

Afuwape however gave assurance that the sealed properties will be released to the owners upon payment of their dues.