Abia Govt To to Drop tax Suit Against Okpara Varsity

The Abia State government has promised to drop the suit it filed against the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, MOUAU, over alleged non-remittance of Pay As You Earn, PAYE, tax, to the state.

The state Board of Internal Revenue, BIR, had two years ago, filed a suit against the University over alleged unremitted PAYE tax.

Governor Alex Otti, who pledged while receiving the management team of the university who came on a courtesy call on him, promised to direct the State Board of Internal Revenue to discontinue the legal action against the University.

He assured that the matter would be withdrawn for an out-of-court settlement for the state and the university to look into it for final resolution.

He said; “There is no way we as a government would take you to court. Since it is something that predates us, we are going to look into it and discontinue it. It doesn’t make sense.

‘’I will instruct the Chairman of the BIR to discontinue the suit. There is nothing we cannot sit down and resolve.”

Earlier, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe, who said they were on a courtesy visit to the governor, had urged him to intervene in the legal action instituted against the university by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue over unremitted PAYE tax. He also urged the governor to expedite action in granting a Certificate of Occupancy to the university.