Date: 2017-05-29

Stakeholders in hospitality business in Kwara State have unanimously raised serious issues with the State Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Bill 2017, saying that the proposed law amount to double taxation.

The Stakeholders gave this indication in Ilorin, during a Public hearing, organised by the State House of Assembly on the bill, pending before it.

Most of the affected Stakeholders, insisted vehemently that almost all goods, sold by hoteliers have been taxed, adding that introducing another tax under the proposed law, would compound the current harsh economic predicament, bedeviling the hospitality sector in the State.

They added that the operators in the hospitality industry in the State, were currently groaning under the burden of multiplicity of taxes and levies, stressing that lack of adequate public utilities, were fast eroding the fortunes and potentials for growth in the industry

While equivocally, opposing the bill, they said the introduction of new tax , will increase cost of goods and services and urged the State Government to create enabling environment, by improving on public infrastructure, training, sensitization and granting financial aids, to businesses being incapacitated, by the prevailing circumstances.

However, the State Ministries of Justice as well as Social Welfare, Culture and Tourism as well as the State Internal Revenue Service, said government was not introducing new tax, but harnessing revenue potentials of the State, to make it less dependant on Federation Account for survival.

Among the Stakeholders at the Public Hearing, were Association of Hotel Owners, Kwara State Polytechnic, Fast Food and Restaurant Owners Association, Barrister Bashir Oladipo, Kwara State Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture and Public Affairs Analyst, Barrister Taofiq Olateju.