The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council, AMAC, Christopher Maikalangu, has warned residents not to pay their taxes into private coffers as that will amount to double payment.
Maikalangu also advised taxpayers to ensure they cross check before making payments to AMAC-designated account number, adding that it is a crime for taxpayers to pay money meant for the council to unauthorized persons .
He spoke at a press briefing on Tuesday in Abuja, to declare the resumption of revenue service in AMAC as from 8th of November 2022.
“To avoid the pitfalls of the past, I want to enjoin the general public never to contemplate or yield to the temptation of making cash payments whatsoever.
“I wish to warn that anyone that falls into the trap of criminal elements by making cash payments or, making any payment in an account that is not officially opened by AMAC, must be ready to pay twice.
“For the avoidance of doubt, clients will be issued with demand notices by our enforcement agents with AMAC designated account numbers marked on them. The demand notices stipulates where to make payment.
“Therefore, we are strongly advising the general public, especially, our esteemed clients, the taxpayers, to be cautious by verifying any account presented to them at the point of payment,” he said.
The AMAC boss further stated that he dissolved the contract of technical partners hired by past administrations on October 5, 2022, as a result of poor service delivery and other issues connected thereto.
“Today, I wish to further announce to the general public, especially, our clients and citizens that the Area Council will as from this moment, resume revenue collection in line with the provisions of the 4th schedule of the Nigerian constitution.
“Therefore, it is my pleasure to formally instruct the revenue department to get to work immediately. This is to say that our agents will soon be issuing demand notices to our clients in line with our renewed efforts to redeem all legitimate outstanding fees and rates due to AMAC.
“Like I mentioned earlier, the revenue enforcement unit, which is responsible for the issuance of demand notices, is directed to strictly enumerate the specific amounts, the banks, and location, they must communicate to the public in simple language.
“Therefore, beginning from today 8th November,. 2022, the Abuja Municipal Area Council has fully resumed revenue enforcement services all over the Council,” he said.
Maikalangu reiterate that no one is authorized to collect revenue by cash or individual or company account, rather, it must be the one officially opened by the area council.
“For purposes of emphasis, I wish all corporate organizations, clients and residents to critically examine the account numbers so provided on the demand notices to avoid being defrauded.
“May I emphasize that this policy is in line with our vision for rapid economic recovery, good governance, and accelerated development we cannot be doing one thing always and think we are progressing.
“We remain committed to delivering on the much-desired dividends of democracy across the 12 electoral wards of the Area Council as we will soon unveil other innovative policies for the benefit of the union and the electorate. We cannot achieve this without the cooperation of the general public,” he said.
