Businesses In Enugu Closing Shops To Evade Tax

Some shop owners open businesses from 5 pm through the night in Enugu State, following varying levies being imposed on commercial houses by the Enugu State Waste Management Agency, ESWAMA.

THE WHISTLER gathered on Monday that a majority of shops that open for business in the evening are under lock from morning till about 4 pm. Those that open during working hours monitor the movement of the task force of ESWAMA, an agency responsible for environmental sanitation in the state.

“They charged my little barber’s shop N20,000 for this year alone,” narrates Obinna Eke, whose shop is along Enugu Road in Nsukka. According to him, “The operatives of the taskforce came three weeks ago. They told me to pay N20,000 for this year. I was told to go to their office at the headquarters of Nsukka LGA. I went there, and they gave me a paper stating where to make the payment. Then I was told I owe the arrears from last year. Where will I get such money? I now attend to my customers in the evening alone.”

Mrs Kate Ezema runs a business centre at Trans-Ekulu. She said she was billed N15,000 by ESWAMA operatives. “I don’t know why they are bringing their levies this time around. When we were made to pay N33,000 to the state early this year, we were told that it covered other taxes and levies across businesses in the state. That was what the state Board of Internal Revenue Services told us. ESWAMA has now come up with a different levy. I only open in the evening till further notice.”

A pub operator, who declined to mention his name, said, “The state is exploiting us. Enugu State launched a unified tax regime when the Mbah administration came on board. How come ESWAMA is coming up with a new levy? And it is paid to the state IGR account. I open for business, but once I get a hint that the task force is coming, I lock my shop. I am yet to settle my children’s school fees.”

Our correspondent saw a document issued by ESWAMA to a shop owner located at Abakpa, Enugu. It was signed by the Chief Executive of the agency, Andreas Gebaur. It directed the shop owner to pay the sum of N72,000 within seven days from the date it was issued.

THE WHISTLER contacted the ESWAMA Office, Enugu, through a dedicated phone number. The receiver, who stated that he was responding on behalf of the agency, clarified that, “Those who didn’t pay last year will pay the arrears. It was clearly stated there. ESWAMA is not part of the state’s unified taxing regime, even currently. Maybe we may join later.”

He said the charge is determined after shop evaluations by ESWAMA officials. “Some shops are charged N120,000; some as low as N15,000. It may sound big for some because of what they owe. We use gazettes. Every business has a designated amount. Those whose shops are small don’t pay as much as those whose shops are bigger.”