Abia Opts For Out-of-court Settlement With Varsity Over Nonremittance Of PAYE

The Abia State Government has opted for out-of-court settlement with the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike over the university’s unremitted pay as you earn (PAYE) tax.

The State’s Board of Internal Revenue had instituted legal action against the university about two years ago, during the immidiate past administration.

Governor Alex Otti stated this while addressing the management team of the university on a working visit to him, saying he will direct the chairman of the board to withdraw the matter.

“There is no way, we as an administraton will take you to court. Since it is something that predated us, we are going to look into it and discontinue it. It doesn’t make sense,” he added.

Otti also promised to engage the university and its boarder communities in resolving issues stopping the university’s moves to obtain Certificate of Occupancy for the land it is occupying.

Earlier, the leader of the team and Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Maduebibisi Iwe enumerated the challenges confronting the university and solicited intervention of the governor.

He saluted the efforts of the governor in repositioning the state through his various transformational projects, assuring of the readiness of the university to collaborate with the administration.