Ekiti State Government has sealed off the business premises of some
banks and GSM service providers over the non-payment of Business
Premises Tax to the state government.

According to the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and
Cooperatives, Mr Michael Ayodele, the affected business outfits owed
the state government money running to millions of naira.

Ayodele, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, said some of the affected
firms had not paid the said tax in the last three years.

The commissioner, who led officials of his ministry to seal off the
affected business premises, said the government took the action
following repeated warnings to the organisations to fulfil their
financial obligations to the state.

He wondered why corporate bodies, making a lot of money from the
state, would find it difficult to fulfil their civic obligations to
the state.

According to him, “people and business outfits must be alive to their civic responsibilities. It is not good when an organisation operates in a state and makes money and refuses to pay the necessary taxes to the state government.”

He stated further that, “we all know that the current economic realities require the blocking of all financial leakages and looking inward for the government to generate funds. The administration of Governor Ayodele Fayose is
delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state and
it is money the government needs to execute its programmes and we
appeal to all to cooperate and pay levies, taxes and dues promptly and
fully.”

He added that the state government would not hesitate to seal off any
erring firm in the state.

Among the firms affected were Unity Bank along Adebayo Road and UBA
along Secretariat Road, Ado-Ekiti.

Others are Etisalat, Airtel and Glo corporate offices.