Hoteliers Issue A 14-Day Ultimatum To Imo State Government To End Illegal Taxation.

The Imo Hoteliers Association has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Imo State Government to end the cruel trend of illegal taxation or risk the closure of hotels in the state.

The Chairman of the Association, Chima Chukwunyere, who made the threat yesterday while addressing journalists in Owerri was in response to what he described as the illegal sealing of Harvesters Hotel by revenue touts, disguised as government’s revenue agents, arguing that there were no court or other injunctions before the sealing.

He argued that as the second highest employer of labor after the government in the state, the persistent activities of the illegal revenue collectors had continued to deal a devastating blow to the industry, despite religiously adhering to a mutual agreement between it and the Imo Internal Revenue Service Iirs in respect of payment of taxes and other sundry obligations.

Secretary of the association, Michael Mbakwe, urged the state government to set up a committee to remedy the unhealthy practice and stem the cruel practice of multiple and illegal taxations.