Edo State Government has sealed some offices at the University of Benin, including the Office of the Vice-Chancellor, over alleged tax evasion.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the offices were sealed in the early hours of Monday by officials of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR).
The other affected offices were the Bursary, Open Registry and Senate Chamber.
Dr. Benedicta Ehanire, the Public Relations Officer of the university, said that it was not true that the institution was sealed.
She added: “As you can see, I am in my office working. My boss is also in her office working. The office was not sealed.”
Some staff members of the institution, who spoke on the development, said that tax deductions were made from their salaries monthly.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the workers wondered why the taxes were not remitted to the state government after they were deducted from their salaries. They blamed the default in tax remittances to the government on the past administration, given that the current Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, assumed office on December 2.
NAN reports that when contacted, the officials of BIR, who sealed the offices, declined to give details on the action.
