The chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Alhaji Abdullahi Candido, has raised alarm over the refusal of Abuja elites to pay taxes on their property in the Federal Capital City (FCT)
Candido revealed that over 99% of the property in the FCT were owned by either retired Generals, Senators or other top Nigerian elites.
“The pathetic development is that most of these Nigerians also own houses in the United States, Europe and other parts of the world where they regularly rush to pay taxes on their property, because of fear of seizure, but here in Abuja when you tell them to pay, they will ask you to waive it, they are our problem and our greatest challenge,” Candido said.
The AMAC boss, was quoted as saying this in a statement by the NUJ secretary, Ochiaka Ugwu, on Wednesday in Abuja, when the newly elected chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Emmanuel Ogbeche paid him a courtesy visit with members of his executive.
Candido said he looks forward to strategic partnership in the area of advocacy on waste management and tackling crimes like “one chance” robbery that is rampant in the city.
On waste management, Candido explained that the council cannot do it alone but in collaboration with other agencies and the Federal Capital Territory administration, stating that waste management was money consuming.
He welcomed the idea of a debate for those seeking for elective offices in the FCT, stressing that “we are ready to participate in the debate as it will offer us another opportunity for AMAC residents to know what we have done and what we intend to do.
“I will urge you to hasten up so that we here in AMAC can participate effectively in the debate.”
Earlier, the NUJ chairman had told the chairman that he came with his team to strategise with the AMAC on partnership while thanking him for the support he gave to the previous NUJ exco.
While acknowledging the progress the council has made, Ogbeche regretted that environmental challenges had continued to prevail in the city, but said the NUJ is ready to assist in creating awareness on environmental sustainability as well as on social vices.
He also informed the AMAC chairman that the NUJ is planning to put up a debate for those contesting in the FCT.
He said it will be a platform for them to engage Abuja residents on what they intend to do if elected.
