Kaduna Govt Unseals Telcos’ Base Stations, As ALTON Intervenes
Reprieve came the way of MTN, Glo, Airtel and 9mobile after Kaduna State government unsealed their base stations over alleged tax defaults amounting to about N5.8bn.
The facilities were released to the telcos following interventions by their umbrella body, the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators in Nigeria, ALTON.
Chairman of the association, Engr Gbenga Adebayo, said that the debacle between the operators and Kaduna state he was surprised that any state government would allow its agencies to shut down telecommunications facilities in this country, considering the untold hardship subscribers will undergo in just five minutes those facilities are not operational.
He denied that these operators were owing the said amount, saying that even if it were so, the action was still barbaric and uncivilised.
According to him, “We were shocked to learn that earlier today (Yesterday) the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, KADIRS, acting basically on assumptions, spurious charges carried an uncivilised action of sealing off telecom facilities belonging to our members. First of all, we have passed the stage where anybody, at any slightest assumption pounces on telecom facilities. It is not done anywhere in the world, except Nigeria.
“Assuming there is any substance in the claim that an operator is owing the state or it’s agencies, the most honourable thing after thing duly writing them is to go to court. This uncivilised way of revenue drive which necessitates the disrupting of critical services like the one telcos render, should stop.
But, in this case KADIRS acted on assumptions. However, we intervened and they were civil enough to listen and unseal the facilities.
“What we are saying, notwithstanding, is that Nigeria is a respected country, globally. “The government must follow due processes in taking actions no matter what the offences are. Uncivilised actions such as the one taken by Kaduna government today should be know with a respected country like ours” he added.
Earlier today, the Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, KADIRS, sealed telecommunication masts in the state belonging to MTN, Globacom and Airtel over failure to pay taxes allegedly totalling N5.8bn.
Head of Corporate Communications KADIRS, Zakari Muhammad, was quoted to say in a statement, that “Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service, in the exercise of its powers vested in it by Section 104 of the Personal Income Tax Act, has sealed up the following masts due to huge tax liabilities as established by Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Agency (KASUPDA).”
“The sealed masts include the MTN mast (IHS) at Tafawa Balewa Way, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna; the GLO mast at Shehu Laminu road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna and the MTN mast (IHS) at Surami road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna.”
Others include MTN Mast managed by IHS at Etsu Road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna, MTN, Airtel, Glo, 9-Mobile Masts, managed by ATC at Nagwamatse Road, Kaduna, MTN (IHS) at Nagwamatse road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna and an MTN mast (IHS) at Shehu Laminu road, Unguwan Rimi, Kaduna.”
Secretary and Legal Adviser of the KADIRS Board, Aisha Ahmad also added that “we are left with no option but to exercise the powers vested in us by the law to enforce compliance.”
While explaining that it’s citizens’ duty to fulfil their tax obligations, she said enforcement was a last resort, as the Kaduna State Government has set a N120bn revenue target.