Abia Govt Opts To Settle With Varsity Over Non-remittance Of Tax

Abia State government has opted for out-of-court settlement with 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 a legal action against the university about two years ago during the immediate past administration.

Governor Alex Otti stated this while addressing the management team of the university on a working visit to him, saying he would direct the chairman of the board to withdraw the case.
“There is no way, we as an administration will take you to court. Since it is something that pre-dated us, we are going to look into it and discontinue it. It doesn’t make sense,” he said.

Otti also promised to engage the university and its border 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, Maduebibisi Iwe enumerated the challenges confronting the university and solicited the governor’s intervention.

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 current administration.