Revenue: AMAC Threatens to Shut Hotels Over Non-Payment of Tax
By: Wisdom Acka
The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) has warned owners of hotels within the Council to pay all necessary taxes or have their property sealed.
The warning was contained in a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to AMAC Chairman, Kingsley Madaki, and issued to the newsmen.
It states that the Council has strictly followed due process by serving them 14-day Demand Notice, and failure to abide by which it would not hesitate to embark on outright closure of all defaulting business premises.
Disclosing that the AMAC Chairman, Christopher Zakka Maikalangu earlier had a meeting with members of the Association of the hoteliers known as HOFA in the Council, where he harped on the importance of revenue payment; saying it was crucial to the running of the Council.
According to the statement, with the expiration of the 14-day Demand Notice, the AMAC Taskforce was directed to commence verification and enforcement in earnest.
Responding on the challenge of double taxation, which the hoteliers complained, Maikalangu explained that his Council was only body responsible for collections on liquor license and business premises permit, among others, and advised them to pay only into AMAC account numbers given to them.
He, however, warned that “anyone who pays into any other account number, does so at his or her own peril”.
The statement continues: “The Chairman has fulfilled his promises to provide transformers and other facilities where there were none, even as he stated that such facilities were usually provided through revenue generated from business operators in the Area Council”.
Appealing for cooperation on collection of taxes and other revenues from other public organizations, the statement argued that the purpose of all governments was for the good of the citizens, which was why governments at all levels needed to work as a team to achieve this aim.