Kaduna asks MDAs to collate ALL non-tax liabilities of DisCo for enforcement

The Kaduna State Internal Revenue Service (KADIRS) has directed the ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) to forward all outstanding non-tax liabilities such as levies, fees, and fines owed by the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KAEDCO) for enforcement.

The KADIRS made the request in a statement signed by Jerry Adams, the executive chairman of the service, on Saturday

The request was issued to the Kaduna State Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), Kaduna State Water Administration Corporation (KADSWAC), Kaduna State Water Regulatory Commission, and Kaduna Environmental Protection Agency (KEPA).

On August 2, the service sealed the distribution company’s (DisCo) headquarters over “N600 million unpaid taxes”.

This forced the DisCo to disconnected the state government house over a N2.9 billion electricity debt.

Speaking on the dispute, Adams said the sealing of KAEDCO’s head office was a consequence of the N600 million tax liability accruable to the state.

He said other levies, fines, and rates payable to the state were yet to be considered.

However, the executive chairman said the service is open to further engagements with KAEDCO and all the relevant parties for an amicable resolution of the issues.

“In the ongoing issues between KAEDCO and Kaduna State Government, Gov. Uba Sani is committed to attracting investors and improving the ease of doing business in the state,” Adams said.

“Investors are equally expected to carry out their civic responsibilities of paying taxes for the improvement of infrastructure, security, and overall service delivery for the businesses to thrive.”

The executive chairman said the service is acting in line with the provisions of Section 3 (2) (b) and (c) of the Kaduna State Tax Codification and Consolidation Law.

According to Adams, the provisions mandated KADIRS to collect and enforce the payment of taxes, levies, fees, and rates due to all the MDAs and local governments of the state.

“Rather, we will identify and carry out enforcement measures on tax evasive, non-compliant organisations and high net worth individuals without minding whose ox is gored,” he said.

He also said KADIRS is committed to equitable taxation, adding that the agency would not overburden the poor with taxes.