Olorunda LCDA Faces 7-Day Ultimatum Over Alleged N300 Weekly POS Levy
Some-fun, who is the Lead Human Rights Advocate of NEWS-SKY TV Reporters and Alfred-Speaks Movement, said he led a delegation of members of the public and POS operators to the Olorunda LCDA Secretariat on Wednesday, August 19, to challenge the levy.
According to him, the delegation was responding to a notice dated April 22, 2026, signed by the council chairman, Hon. Ajose Peter Kumayon, and the council treasurer, Awusinu Olayinka.
Some-fun said the Executive Chairman was unavailable when the delegation arrived, while officials of the council and a media aide attended to them but were unable to provide what he described as a concrete official explanation or legal basis for the levy.
He said the delegation subsequently submitted a written petition addressed to the council chairman.
Some-fun said copies of the petition would also be sent to the Lagos State Government, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA).
The activist argued that the council lacked the legal authority to impose a weekly levy specifically on POS operators, citing provisions of the 1999 Constitution and other laws.
He referenced the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, the Taxes and Levies (Approved List for Collection) Act 1998 and laws governing financial institutions in making his argument.
According to him, POS operations fall under the regulatory framework of the CBN and are not listed among the revenue sources available to local councils.
He also argued that the levy could place additional financial pressure on POS operators and, ultimately, customers who depend on their services.
Some-fun rejected the council’s reported description of the levy as part of its “civic responsibility” obligations, arguing that such a justification cannot override existing laws.
He also maintained that reducing an earlier levy of N1,200 to N300 per week would not make the levy lawful if there was no legal authority for its collection.
The activist said the delegation had given the council seven days to provide a written response.
He is demanding the immediate cancellation of the N300 weekly POS levy, a written apology and public notice to affected operators, as well as the refund of money allegedly collected since May 4, 2026.
Some-fun warned that failure by the council to meet the demands within seven days would lead to further legal and administrative action.
He said the group would consider filing a Fundamental Rights Enforcement Suit at the Federal High Court and petitioning the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Lagos State House of Assembly over what he described as abuse of office and illegal revenue collection.
The activist stressed that his group was not opposed to development but insisted that revenue collection and other government activities must be carried out within the law.
Olorunda LCDA had not, at the time of this report, issued a detailed public response to the allegations and demands contained in the petition.
Shemariah Media will continue to monitor the matter and report any response from the council.