Officials
of the Lagos Internal Revenue Service, LIRS, have shut down Infinity Television
owned by flamboyant preacher, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome, for owing the state
government several millions.
This came
from the heels of Tuesday’s protest by workers of the TV station over non
payment of 10 months salaries and non-remittance of their Pay As You Earn (PAYE)
tax to the appropriate authorities.
Infinity
TV a Direct To Home (DTH) cable TV is owned by Pastor Oyakilome of Christ
Embassy and was incorporated in 2009, is located on 16, Moyibat Oyefusi Street,
Omole Phase 1. As
members of staff of the company were protesting non-payment of salaries on
Tuesday, officials of the LIRS stormed the premises of the company, shut it
down and placed a notice on the gate after locking it with padlock.
Some
of the workers who caimed anonymous spoke with newsmen saying that they were
ready to protest to Christ Embassy Church on Oregun Road at the Cross Over
Night on 31 December, 2014 to demand for the payment of their entitlements
since the management of the company is planning to lay them off without paying
the arrears of their salaries. “Prior to this time, the staff had been
receiving half salaries (for over a year) and by June 2014 salaries have not
been paid to date. To worsen the case, the staff were barred from entering the
office premises by the Chief Operating Officer, Mr Henry Kifordu.
“All
efforts by the staff to meet with the management proved abortive. Staff taxes
and pensions have been deducted for years and were never remitted to
appropriate authorities. Infinity TV was finally locked up for tax evasion on
23 December, 2014,” a staff of the company stated.
The
aggrieved workers said they were left with no other option than to take to the
streets to fight for their rights and have decided to storm Christ Embassy’s 31
December night global service to make their grievances known to Oyakhilome,
whom, they believed, may not be aware of the happenings in the company.
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