The Oyo State government and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) have engaged each other in an-eye-for-an-eye fight relationship over accumulated electricity bill and unpaid tax revenue.
While the electricity distribution firm disconnected power supply to the Agodi state secretariat complex for the government’s alleged failure to pay electricity bill totaling N450 million, the government responded by sealing up the company’s offices in Ibadan for owing the state over N400 million in tax revenue.
The DisCo’s chief operating officer, Mr. John Ayodele said in a statement that the state government claimed IBEDC owed it revenue bills and income tax hence the action.
However, he said the claim was suspicious.
He said the company, as part of efforts to get the outstanding paid, initiated several engagements through correspondences and physical meetings, but all these efforts yielded no positive result.
“The management of IBEDC hereby informs its esteemed customers of the retaliatory and illegal action of the Oyo State Government over the issue of its huge indebtedness.
“The Oyo State Government on Wednesday 9 February 2022 commenced the sealing of our offices within the state over some suddenly contrived debts labelled revenue bills and personal income without due notification.
“This issue of revenue bills and personal income arising now is quite suspicious.
“Oyo State Government is owing IBEDC a whooping consumption outstanding of N450 million for over a period of three years.
“No business in this country can run successfully with such a huge outstanding, the power we distribute to customers must be accounted for and paid for, we have no choice but to disconnect the Oyo State Secretariat, so it is worrisome to see that the government has sealed off our offices with this underhand and arm twisting tactics, instead of paying the debt owed.
“This was not done in good faith and it would have a damaging effect on the business and service delivery to our customers.”
He appealed to the government to look into the matter in the interest of all concerned.
He stated that the faceoff would further exacerbate the power challenges and pressure on residents and commercial activities in the state.
However, the state government denied the allegation it sealed up the IBEDC offices in Ibadan because the company disconnected the government office.
He said such a report was not only false but also misleading.
The Commissioner for information, culture and tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatubosun, however said in a statement that the government took the action because the DisCo had been owing tax revenue totalling over N400 million in the last two years.
He said IBEDC’s indifference towards the settlement of the bills necessitated the locking and sealing of the company’s major offices in the state.
He said the company never objected to owing accumulated bills served it by officials of the Oyo State Board of Internal Revenue Service for the past two years, which led the state to seek a legal solution and the high court gave the government the warrant to seal up its to enforce payment as provided for in Section 45 (3 & 4) of the Revenue Administration Law of Oyo State.
“This is the stand of the government and we seek the understanding of the people not to be misled by those who trade in falsehood,” he stated.
The commissioner therefore appealed to other business interests within the state to toe the path of honour by meeting up their obligation to the state government in the area of tax and other revenue payment without being forced.
