N50m signage debt: Ekiti shuts MTN, Etisalat offices

Ekiti State Government has sealed outlets of two Global
System for Mobile (GSM) Telecommunication Companies, MTN Nigeria Limited and Etisalat, in Ado-Ekiti for allegedly defaulting the state government of signage and advertisement bills to the tune of N50 million
naira.
The affected outlets of the GSM companies include their main offices at Fajuyi Park and Okesa while two other outlets of telecoms giant, MTN at lyin road and Adebayo area of the state capital were also sealed off.
Commenting on the development, the Special Adviser to the
Governor on Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Mr. Ropo Ogunbiyi, said that his agency has legal backing for its action.
Ogunbiyi stated that the affected companies were
formally notified about their huge indebtedness to the state
government since 2006, but could not get any positive response from them.
He lamented that it was unfortunate that telecommunication
companies of such calibre that have made so much money from members of the public could find it difficult to pay their signage fees, adding that after a long period of waiting and entreaties, the board had no option left than to seal off the companies.
The revenue boss explained further that with the dwindling federal allocations, there is the need for the state government to look inwards and generate more money internally so as to have enough funds to execute the numerous people-oriented projects of the state government.
He commended Governor Ayodele Fayose for living up to his
electoral promises inspite of the huge debt inherited from the
previous administration, urging the people, particularly the private sector to assist the government through prompt payment of their taxes and rates.