As part of its current revenue generation drives, the Osun State Internal Revenue Service (OIRS) has clamped down on Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile Ife, Osun State.
The OIRS yesterday locked the main gate, Senate chamber and the administrative building of the university over alleged unremitted N1.8 billion Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and other deductions.
Other taxes allegedly not remitted by the university’s authorities include withholding taxes (WHT) and developments levy which should have been paid in 2015 and 2016.
Brtnews.ng reliably gathered that prior to the locking up of the institution’s gate, the revenue service had made several formal demands for payment which were allegedly ignored by the institution’s authorities.
Again, it was learnt before the final clampdown, the OIRS issued a seven-day ultimatum within which the authorities were expected to pay the debts.
An OAU official, who confirmed the ugly development claimed that OIRS’ officers came with policemen and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps team to effect the clampdown.
He clarified: “Officials of Osun State revenue agency sealed our main gate, the secretariat and other places this morning. They came together with armed policemen and NSCDC officials.
“They closed the main gate but some of the staff, commercial bus drivers and business operators especially food vendors and others became agitated and this led to a serious crisis. The gate was eventually opened but other places remained closed”, he added.
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