The Delta State Government has taken legal action against hotels, lounges, and clubs that failed to obtain or renew their operational licences.
According to the Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Darlington Ijeh, the defaulters have been served notices to appear before the magistrate court.
He said, “Consequent to the failure of most hotels, nightclubs, and lounges owners to register their facilities, obtain operating licences, or renew them with the state tourism board through the Internal Revenue Service, it has become necessary for the Directorate of Culture and Tourism to seek legal remedy.
“Recall that since the inception of this administration, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has been maintaining the necessary enabling environment for businesses to thrive, has invested heavily in security infrastructure and has constantly maintained that the state would do everything within the ambit of the law to collect every legitimate tax due to it.”
“The first set of defaulters will be appearing before the magistrate court to give an account of why they should not be sanctioned or prosecuted for failing to perform their legitimate obligations to the state.”
“This should serve as a deterrent and warning to hotel, club, and lounge owners in other parts of the state,” as there will be “no selective treatment in this operation”, he added.
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