By Daniel Tyokua
The authorities of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) have threatened to seal any hotel that fail to pay its revenue due into the coffers of the council.
In a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Public Affairs to the AMAC chairman, Kingsley Madaki, said the area council had followed the law and served the defaulting hotels 14 days demand notice.
According to the statement, the Chairman had a meeting with the association of the hoteliers known as HOFA in the area council and discussed with them on the importance of the revenue to the running of the area council and private businesses.
The statement read: “Since we have given 14 days demand notice which, has since elapsed, the AMAC taskforce would start work next Monday to verify those that have paid and seal those that haven’t.
“AMAC only collects liquor license, business premises permit, among others, adding that one notice is usually given and since the area council has done that, the taskforce will start work on Monday”
The statement said the area council has also furnished them with its account number, even as he warned that anybody that paid to another account number would be on his or her own.
On the planned action of the area council, the chairman had fulfilled his promises to provide transformers and other facilities where there were none during his campaign, even as he stated that such facilities were usually provided through revenue generated from business operators in the area council.
According to the statement, taxes and other revenues by Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), informed that the FCTA or any of its agencies, like the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) lacks the jurisdiction to collect revenue from business operators, saying that they are not area council.
He therefore appealed to them to cooperate with the area council, as well as strictly follow the rules and regulations for their own interest and that of the government, adding that the government, as an agent, is for the good of the citizens.
