‘Work of imposters’ — AMAC denies demanding community development levy from businesses

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has denied demanding the payment of a community development levy from businesses in the federal capital territory (FCT).

In a letter dated August 15, the council allegedly issued a 14-day ultimatum for the payment of N100,000 to the business owner.

According to the letter, the notice was made under provisions of Section 7 and the fourth schedule to the constitution and “other relevant laws” guiding local governments in Nigeria and the FCT.

“Failure to pay this fee will result in the confiscation of any valuable items, or possible seal-off of the premises, or both, by the Relevant Laws. Also, note that the Council has constituted special Mobile Courts on Revenue Issues for speedy trial of defaulters,“ the letter reads.

Aisha Shuaibu, another entrepreneur, also shared a similar letter demanding the payment of N40,000 development level from the “council” on X.

But in a statement on Wednesday, Kingsley Madaki, senior special assistant to the AMAC chairman, said the letter was the handiwork of impostors.

Madaki said the council did not empower any technical partner to generate community development levy.

He added that the council has swung into action to investigate and apprehend all the perpetrators of the act.

“Due to incessant harassment of business owners with touts and security agents and undue extortion from unsuspecting residents by some technical partners led to negative news making round in some social media platforms and other conventional media,” the statement reads.

“It was also observed that some of technical partners established their own mobile courts without the consent of the Council, obtaining court orders to garnish account of tax payers, using force to lock-up their shops and business premises and harass innocent citizens in the name of revenue generation.

“The Executive Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, directed that all technical partners should as a matter of urgency, organize trainings and workshops for all their field worker on civility, effective communication and work ethics.

“Considering that fake revenue collectors can infiltrate the field workers, the technical partners are also advised to provide uniforms and means of identification for their field workers to avoid diverting the Council’s IGR into private bank accounts.

“All Technical Partners must inform and involve the AMAC Legal Division before taking any legal action against any business owner or organization. No Technical Partners is permitted to lock up any business premises or use touts to harass innocent citizens without informing the Council.

“Any fake revenue collector apprehended should be arraigned and prosecuted at the nearest mobile court.”