OAU Mgt Reacts Over School Closure

The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, has assured that the institution will pay its arrears of taxes as soon as possible.

The institution was shut down Wednesday morning by the officials of the state IRS led by Oladipo Babatunde after obtaining a court order.

The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Abiodun Olanrewaju, appealed to the state government and promised that the institution is working ”tirelessly to resolve the issue”.

This was said in reaction to the closure of the institution by the Osun State Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over tax default of N1.8 billion.

Reacting to the closure, Abiodun Olanrewaju said:

“We are working tirelessly to resolve the issue. The management is law abiding and will ensure the prompt payment of the tax debt”.

Mr Olanrewaju said the debt was caused by previous administrations of the institution.

“Since 2017, the present administration has been paying consistently but a backlog of debt inherited from past administrations is causing this ‘little’ trouble. The institution is assuring the public that all will be resolved soon. We are doing that administratively.”

He also noted that the fresh students undergoing registration are not affected, ”as only the Senate and the administrative blocks are affected by the closure”.

The state government had earlier issued seven days ultimatum to some companies accused of owing the state well over N12.5 billion as unremitted taxes.

According to the Special Adviser to the State Governor on Tax Matters, Gbenga Akano, the government subsequently decided to prosecute the defaulters.