OGUN CONDEMNS RUMOUR

The Ogun State Government has faulted the rumour of a 300 per cent increase in Personal Income Tax of its civil servants. It said it was only implementing to the letter, the Personal Income Tax Act (Cap P8 LFN 2004),which guides the administration of Income Tax throughout Nigeria.

While briefing newsmen after a meeting with the chairmen of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Trade Union Congress and Joint Negotiating Council in Abeokuta, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Taiwo Adeoluwa, said the government had neither reduced the salaries nor increased the tax payable by the civil servants.

'The Personal Income Tax Act is a federal statute; it is incumbent on all authorities in Nigeria to implement the law. We have no intention of increasing tax or adding to the burden of our people. It is only our duty to ensure that the extant law guiding PAYE throughout the country is implemented as well in Ogun State,' Adeoluwa said.

He regretted that the previous administration failed to comply with the Personal Income Tax Act ostensibly because it was not paying the salaries of workers in full.

The SSG said, 'Now we pay the salaries of workers in full and as at when due. We have allowed all workers to claim the maximum benefits and allowances allowed by the Act even in advance and have not compelled them to pay back the arrears of unpaid taxes and penalties.'