Corporate organisations in Abuja now have to pay about N200,000 to have their business premises inspected for certification by Abuja Municipal Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Organisations operating under the jurisdiction of the Abuja Municipal Area Council of FCT are required to make the payment before the inspection can be carried out.
Punishment for refusal: Companies in the jurisdiction have no choice but to heed to the demands of the Council officials in order to avoid their business premises sealed, a report by Punch disclosed. Various organisations in the Idu Industrial Layout in Karmo, Abuja, have been levied by the agency four times or more.
[READ MORE: FG threatens to disconnect Togo, others from electricity over $16 million debt)
These demands were said to have been made within the last two months. According to an official of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, Sylvester Joseph, the N200,000 levy is statutory and all companies under the jurisdiction must respond positively to the demand.
What you need to know: The anomaly of the levy is that the Abuja Municipal Area Council will be the party to request for permission to inspect the premises.
The council sends a reminder to the companies, informing them of its earlier request while threatening to seal any erring company. In one of the letters dated November 18, the council threatened to seal off the receiving company located in the Idu Industrial Layout.
[READ MORE: FG threatens to disconnect Togo, others from electricity over $16 million debt)
The council added that, “It has been brought to our notice that you have refused to pay N200, 000 for inspection and certification due on your property situated at Idu yard.
“Therefore, unless you settle your bills within two weeks from the date of this notice, the Abuja Municipal Area Council will have no choice but to seal the property until the inspection and certification rate is paid.”
What this means for Nigeria: The Federal Government has been seeking several ways to raise capital in order to increase its revenue generation. If this is one of the methods being applied, then it might put a dent on the country’s ease of doing business image.
Despite increasing on the log of ease of doing business globally, the country still receives heavy criticisms over its business regulations. The business environment in Nigeria is described as hostile to companies and the N200,000 for unsolicited inspection check will only give credence to the assertion, thereby, discouraging investors.
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