IGR: Lagos seals 6 hotels over tax evasion, Rivers warns advertisers
No doubt, many states across the federation are now becoming very serious with generating Internally generated revenues (IGR). Only last week, the Anambra State government clamped down on owners of billboards for not remitting their taxes just as Rivers State government followed suit.
This is coming at a time the Rivers State Signage and Advertisement Agency (RISAA) has advised outdoor professionals and owners of billboards and signage in the state to register with the agency before November 30, 2016.
In Lagos, the State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture on Saturday closed six hospitality establishments for contravening statutory registration and non-payment of annual permits.
Barbara Wey, the Head of Hotel Licensing Directorate of the ministry, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that the offence contravened sections 4 and 9 of hotel licensing directorate.
Wey listed the locations of the outfits sealed to include Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Airport road and Ogba axis.
According to her, event centres, Nite clubs and hotels were closed during the three-day operation, which started on November 16.
The team head said some of the outfits were shut due to uncompleted registrations, non-renewal of annual permits and noncompliance with statutory process.
Wey said: “Some of them refuse to register their hospitality outfits and event centres after several notifications and contravention notices served by the state government since 2012.”
Wey said that the ministry would ensure that all tourism and hospitality establishments in the state complied with registration, payment of all dues and permit.
She said: “All defaulting tourism and hospitality operators are enjoined to comply with the registration process and pay all accrued dues to the state government.”
