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The Osun State government has accused telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria of owing over N900 million in unpaid taxes, urging the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to step in and resolve the issue.
The development followed MTN’s recent donations to the federal government despite the alleged debt.
Rotimi George-Taylor, a consultant to the Osun State Government on telecommunications infrastructure and chairman of Global Transactions Limited, voiced his concerns during a press conference on Tuesday in Osogbo, the state capital. He criticised MTN for donating N1 billion to the federal government’s food support programme and providing 4,600 digital devices to schools while allegedly neglecting its tax obligations to Osun State government.
“MTN should have met its constitutional obligations before making such donations,” George-Taylor stated. He further noted that the company has laid over 270 kilometers of cables in Osun State but has “refused to pay statutory taxes,” which he described as a violation of the state’s laws and regulations.
George-Taylor, therefore, warned that operating in the state without adhering to relevant laws and accumulating substantial unpaid bills sends a negative signal. He urged the federal government to ensure that companies like MTN fulfill their constitutional obligations before being allowed to engage in high-profile public relations activities.
“I have dealt with many multinational companies, but I have not encountered what MTN Nigeria is doing,” George-Taylor remarked. “While it is ordinarily commendable for a multinational company to donate N1 billion to our country, this noble act comes off as questionable when the same company owes Osun State over N900 million.”
He called on the NCC to act as an impartial arbiter and ensure that Osun State is not deprived of its rightful income by MTN. “It is imperative that NCC lives up to its position to ensure that Osun State is not defrauded of its legitimate income by MTN,” he added.
Olawale Rasheed, spokesperson for Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke, echoed George-Taylor’s sentiments, stressing the need for MTN to settle its outstanding dues. Rasheed highlighted that prompt payment would bolster MTN’s reputation as a responsible corporate entity committed to compliance with state laws.
“Osun has a disciplined government that is deploying its scarce resources to delivering on good governance,” Rasheed said. “Even at board level, MTN should know the legitimate funds belonging to the state are for good governance.”
He urged MTN to set a positive example for other telecom and multinational companies by respecting local laws. “What the company wouldn’t do in South Africa should never be practiced here in Nigeria,” Rasheed asserted. “Much more importantly, the company should consider how disappointing it is for it to cheat the home state of its Nigerian head.”
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