By Our Reporter

A Civil Society Organization, Centre for Reform and Public Advocacy will any moment from now drag the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike to court over an alleged collection of outdoor advertisement and signage fees in the six area councils of the FCT.

The group in a letter to the FCT Minister dated January 22, and copied to the Director, Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage, threatened to commence legal action against Wike and the Director within seven days, if the collection of the said fees in the six area councils is not stopped forthwith.

According to the lawyer to the group, Mr Kalu Kalu Agu, the action of the department was not backed by any legal authority and as such criminal.

“With the greatest respect, Your Excellency, the issue of collection of the Outdoor Advertisement and Signage fees is not only constitutionally provided for but also enjoys a statutory flavour as encapsulated in the Taxes and Levies Act, 2004, LFN and the Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, 2006

“Interestingly, none of these laws and/or any other, donated any powers to your office to so collect the said fees in the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“But it is shocking to know that despite these constitutional and statutory provisions that empower the six area councils to collect the outdoor advertisement and signage fees, the Director, in conceit with other staff of your administration are moving around the entire six area councils collecting the said revenue without any legal backing.

“It is note-worthy that the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), Taxes and Levies Act, 2004, LFN and the Local Government Act, Laws of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, 2006, exclusively donated the powers of collection of the Outdoor Advertisement and Signage Fess to the six area councils”, Agu stated.

The human rights activist, demanded that Wike put a stop to this illegal collection of revenue not meant for the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, as it is not only an economic sabotage but also criminal.

“TAKE NOTICE that in the event you fail to heed to this demand after seven (7) days of receipt of this letter, we shall resort to legal actions to restrain you and the Director of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage from extorting money from the unsuspecting business community and diverting public revenue to personal usages.

“We are hopeful that you will heed to our demand and allow wise counsel prevail. Please, do accept the assurances our warmest regards”, he added.

It will be recalled that the Centre had on January 7 kicked against the moves by the Federal Capital Territory Internal Revenue Service, FCT -IRS, to collect all revenues on behalf of the six Area Councils of the FCT in 2025.

The group had in a statement maintained that the move to collect taxes on behalf of the Area Councils is unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.

Agu had clarified that the FCT – IRS ACT, 2015 limits the powers of the service to collect revenues to the Federal Capital Territory Administration.

“For the purposes of clarity and emphasis, the Six Area Council are not departments of Federal Capital Territory Administration, but a 3rd tier of Government, constitutionally enshrined and established, and whose functions and powers are delineated by the same Constitution.

“While the Supreme Court had granted autonomy to Area council / local government, it is laughable that Mr. Michael Ango, the Acting Chairman of the FCT – IRS seeks to undermine the pronouncement of the Supreme Court by usurping the powers and functions of the of the Area council, with a total disregard to the Constitution and the law”, the group said.

It will also be recalled that the acting Chairman of the FCT -IRS, Mr Michael Ango had announced at the 2024 end of year media briefing in Abuja, that FCT-IRS will be responsible for the collection of all revenues on behalf of the six area councils of the FCT in 2025.

Ango had said that the goal was to ease compliance by taxpayers in the FCT and improve transparency and accountability for all revenue collection.

Besides, he had added that a similar arrangement was being worked out with the various Secretariats, Departments and Agencies in the FCT Administration, explaining that the decision was in compliance with the directive of the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike.