- The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) sealed the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) headquarters due to unpaid taxes
- AEDC staff indicated that the closure was related to unpaid taxes, and the company had previously contacted FIRS to discuss deducting the tax from their outstanding bill
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) sealed the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) headquarters yesterday, around 1 p.m. The closure led to an emergency evacuation of AEDC staff despite the drizzling weather in the city. Police officers brought by the FIRS kept guard as AEDC employees left the premises.
Last month, AEDC published the names of government agencies owing electricity bills. While the FIRS was not included in that list, another list published in January had FIRS as a debtor with an outstanding bill of N362,387,502.
When asked about the specific tax laws AEDC violated leading to the office closure, Zach Adedeji, Special Adviser, Media, to the Chairman of FIRS, suggested contacting AEDC for the reasons behind the sealing. Adedeji stated, “Don’t allow them to use you. Before FIRS was enforced, it would have issued the company a notice of the tax law it violated. Let them tell you what they did. They should have a spokesperson, so contact the person.”
AEDC’s spokesperson, Adefisayo Akinsanya, did not respond when contacted, citing she was in a meeting and requested a text message, to which she did not respond. However, a staff member of AEDC indicated that the closure was related to unpaid taxes. The employee mentioned that AEDC had contacted FIRS to discuss deducting the tax from their outstanding bill.
“We were surprised by their action because a meeting was held between the two organizations a few weeks back to discuss how the matter could be settled amicably. I believe it is a show of strength. The office will be opened for us. They want to make a statement to us through force,” the staff member explained.