By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogu at the weekend asked owners of businesses in the hospitality sector in the state to pay their dues and taxes to the government as at when due.
The Commissioner stated this while holding meeting of stakeholders in Tourism and Hospitality sector in the state held at the Ministry of Information and Culture premises secretariat, Ibadan.
Mr Arulogun who disclosed that already the state government has set up the machinery to deal with tax defaulters quickly added that the move is not meant to strangulate business activities but to ensure compliance with tax laws.
“Government has set up a task force to go round operators in the hospitality industry statewide. This task force is comprised of all the stakeholders in the sector. We want people to pay their dues as government is driving the 2018 appropriation bill through internally generated revenue. We will not strangulate any business through the payment of their dues but rather provide the conducive, enabling and secured environment as well as the required infrastructure to make businesses thrive.” he said.
According to him, the state government’s tax net will catch all the defaulters and they will be dealt with according to the law, saying government officials in conjunction with members of the hospitality sector and necessary stakeholders will soon embark on monitoring exercise to ensure compliance of tax payment.
He stressed that the hospitality and tourism sector “is one of the most vibrant in the state’s economy,” and that Oyo state government “will not fold its hands and allow a huge chunk of its revenue to slip away”.
adding that Government has rededicated its efforts in ensuring that its tax net accommodates all potential tax payers, stressing that the government will leave no stone unturned to explore the growing hospitality industry which has recorded an increased growth in size of 103% since the inception of Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration.
The Commissioner emphasized that Oyo state government will not tolerate tax defaulters.
President, Hoteliers Association of Oyo State, Chief Jerome Adoroh while speaking charged all owners of hospitality businesses in Oyo state to register with the state government, hoteliers association as well as relevant bodies.
Chief Adoroh while assuring the state government of their support in its IGR drive in the hospitality sector said , “we need to support the present administration in the state. Governor Ajimobi is turning around the State and more businesses are springing up. Go to Ologuneru, New Ife Road, Basorun-Akobo among others, you will see the government’s presence.”
‘ However, I wish to appeal to the governor to pay compensation to property owners that are affected by the ongoing infrastructural development.Governor Ajimobi is rebuilding Oyo State and people that are criticizing him now will thank him later. He has modernized Oyo State. Government should set up a task force comprising government officials, hoteliers, tourist operators, canteen owners among other to generate revenue from the hospitality sector,” he said.
