The legal action taken two years ago by the Abia State government against the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) for failing to submit Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax payments will be dropped.
Governor Alex Otti said this while taking over the University’s management at his Isiala Ngwa South residence under the direction of Professor Maduebibisi Iwe, the Vice Chancellor.
In response to the University’s management’s petition for the case brought by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service to be withdrawn, Otti stated that the issue, which preceded his administration, will be resolved peacefully.
“There is no way, we as a government would take you to court. Since it is something that predated us we are going to look into it. There is nothing we cannot sit down and resolve,” he said.
Recalling how his administration had compensated the owners of approximately 150 demolished buildings along Ossah road Umuahia prior to the start of road construction, Governor Otti further pledged to work with the university and its border communities to resolve issues that were impeding the university’s chances of receiving the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the land it had acquired.
In the meantime, Otti assigned the members of the Investigation Panel on Students’ Riot to be unbiased in carrying out their tasks, and requested them to ascertain the true reason for the disturbance that resulted in the school’s closure.
He said that the scenario was harmful for the next generation and raised concern about the academic distortion brought about by the students’ riot and the school’s subsequent closure.
Earlier in his appeal, the university’s vice chancellor, Iwe, pleaded with the governor to grant the university a Certificate of Occupancy as soon as possible, citing the benefits to the school’s property security.
