Hotel owners in Kwara accuse KWIRS of harassment, overregulation
Hotel owners in Kwara State have voiced their concerns, accusing the State Revenue Service (KWIRS) of extortion, intimidation, and harassment, along with the unwarranted closure of their establishments without court orders.
The hoteliers have alleged a lack of coordination between KWIRS and other government agencies responsible for setting and negotiating taxes, leading to exorbitant bills being served to them.
Dauda Akande and Babatunde Oladunmoye, president and secretary of the hoteliers association, stated in a release from Ilorin, the state capital, that their members can no longer afford the “outrageous bills” due to the challenging economic situation in the country.
They emphasized that excessive regulation and multiple taxes are discouraging investments in Kwara state’s hospitality and tourism industry.
The hoteliers further accused KWIRS of using the police to intimidate and detain their members, even for matters that are purely civil taxation issues.
They called on the state government to invalidate the inaccurately generated bills and demand notices served by the revenue service and demanded a halt to the closure of hotels without proper court orders.
Additionally, Akande and Oladunmoye urged the state government to allow business associations to directly pay taxes and levies to government revenue accounts, preventing extortion and diversion of funds into private pockets through collusion and conspiracies.
In response to the allegations, KWIRS spokesperson Titi Ogunwale stated that the claims made by the hoteliers have no basis.
She mentioned that KWIRS had discussions with the hotel association leaders and other concerned parties to address the issues raised.
Ogunwale dismissed the press release as an act of mischief and reiterated the ongoing engagement the state is having with various associations, individuals, and corporate bodies in the State.
