Abolade Sokunbi
Ogun State Government has offered 75 percent discount to owners of hotels, as waiver to cover years 2016 to 2020.
According to the state government, this is towards settling arrears of their outstanding Land Use and Amenities Charge.
With this development, all hotel owners are expected to pay the current year charge in full, in addition to payment of 25 percent of all arrears owed by such operators.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Hassan Adekunle who made this position of government known today in Abeokuta, at a meeting with members of Hoteliers Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter, said the decision was to further demonstrate the present administration’s commitment to entrench a friendly environment for investments and businesses to thrive.
Adekunle recalled that the government had earlier given hoteliers 90 percent rebate last year, as means of coping with the debilitating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, 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 percent rebate on year 2020 charge and additional 75 percent discount on all arrears up to December 2019, to help them stabilise in the face of the biting effects of COVID-19 pandemic. Infact, this government is enforcing the Land Use and Amenities Charge with human face”, Adekunle stated.
In his remark, the representative of the Consultant to the State Government on Land Use and Amenities Charge, Mr. Ayo Ladigbolu disclosed that the Charge in Ogun is the cheapest when compared with what obtains in other States, particularly the South West region.
Ladigbolu said a customer care centre and phone numbers were available in the Ministry, to entertain complaints and suggestions from the public and address issues generated by the enforcement.
Speaking, the President of the Association, Otunba Segun Timi, had earlier appealed for reopening of the sealed hotels in the state.
He expressed his delight on the concession granted their members, commending the State Government for the provision of various infrastructural amenities that had impacted positively on the people of the state.
