Date: 2018-11-03

  The Kwara State chapter of the Union of Tippers and Quarry Employers of Nigeria have debunked allegation that members are conniving with top staff of the Ministry of Industry and Solid Minerals to divert revenue generated on monthly basis.

Speaking to our reporter, yesterday, the state Chairman of the Union, Alhaji Mogaji Ibrahim Yusuf, said they have been collecting and remitting revenue as and when due.

He said,"The allegation is mischievous as we don’t have anybody within the ministry that we pay money to but directly to Kwara Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS)."

The Chairman called on the public to disregard allegations that cannot be verified, pledging that the union will continue to contribute its quota to economic development of the state.

In his reaction, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Sayyid Ola clarified that the union had signed agreement to be remitting money on monthly basis to government coffers.

"The union had signed an agreement to collect revenue from their members and be remitting N1.2 million on monthly basis to the government but they came to plead for a review downward to N1million because of the dwindling economy and it was reviewed.

"However, they have been owing for some months, so, we agreed on a new arrangement and told them that they must clear their debt.

"So they started paying N1 million monthly to KWIRS but perhaps some people thought that they have been deducting N200,000 because they are not aware of the new arrangement."

The Permanent Secretary then called on members of the public to always verify information.