The Ogun State Government has announced a 75% discount to operators of hotels in the State, towards settling arrears of their outstanding Land Use and Amenities Charge, a waiver which covers years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Penpushing reports that, Permanent Secretary State Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Hassan Adekunle made this known at a meeting with members of the State chapter of Hoteliers Association of Nigeria, held in Abeokuta
The Permanent Secretary explained that with this gesture, all hotel owners are expected to pay the current year charge in full in addition to payment of 25% of all arrears owed by such operators.
Penpushing further reports that Adekunle explained that the decision was a further demonstration of the current administration’s commitment to further entrench a friendly environment for investments and businesses to thrive in the State.
The Permanent Secretary recalled that as a means of coping with the debilitating effects of the coronavirus, the State Government gave hoteliers 90 percent rebate last year, maintaining that the enforcement of the Land Use and Amenities Charge was being pursued with human face.
“I want to remind us that in year 2020, the Government approved two categories of incentives to hoteliers in the State-90 % rebate on Year 2020 charge, and additional 75% discount on all arrears up to December, 2019 to help them stabilize in the face of the biting effects of COVID 19 pandemic. You will all agree with me that this government is enforcing the Land Use and Amenities Charge with human face” Adekunle stated.
Penpushing also reports that, in his remarks, the representative of the Consultant to the State Government on Land Use and Amenities Charge, Mr. Ayo Ladigbolu disclosed that the charge in the State is the cheapest when compared with what obtains in other States, particularly in the South West region.
The consultant disclosed that to address the issues generated by the enforcement, a Customer Care Centre and Phone numbers have been made available in the Ministry of Finance to entertain complaints and suggestions from the public.
The President of the Association in the State, Otunba Segun Timi, who had earlier appealed for reopening of the sealed hotels, expressed his delight on the concession granted their members and commended the State government for the provision of various infrastructural amenities, which he noted had impacted positively on their businesses.
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