The Federal Government has expressed its determination to sanction operators in the lottery and gaming industry who have failed to remit their dues to the National Lottery Trust Fund (NLTF). The government said it would not tolerate any violation of the existing laws and regulations governing the industry.
FG vows to recover N100m debt from lottery operators
The Minister of Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, George Akume, said the government would go tough on recovering N100 million debt owed by lottery operators in the country. He made this known at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Akume, some of the lottery operators have taken the government for granted and have not fulfilled their obligations of remitting to the NLTF as required by the law. He said the government had used diplomacy to persuade them to pay up, but they had abused the privilege and failed to live up to their expectations.
He warned that the government would not hesitate to revoke the licences of defaulting operators who want to continue in the business without adhering to the global standards and best practices. He said the lottery and gaming industry was a potential source of revenue for the government and should be properly regulated and monitored.
NLRC to set up committee to enforce compliance
The Director-General of the National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Lanre Gbajabiamila, said the commission was working hard to improve the operations and compliance of the industry. He said the commission had designed a Central Monitoring System (CMS) that would help in tracking and auditing the activities of the operators.
He also said the commission would set up an extra-ministerial committee in two weeks time to go on a debt recovery drive and ensure that lottery operators remit what they owe the government. He said the committee would comprise representatives of the NLRC, the NLTF, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He added that the commission was also working on a bill to amend the Lottery Act 2005, which is currently before the National Assembly. He said the bill would address some of the challenges facing the industry, such as double-taxation by state governments, illegal and online operators, and lack of transparency and accountability.
Lottery operators appeal for leniency and support
Some of the lottery operators who attended the meeting appealed to the government to be lenient and supportive of their businesses. They said they were facing some difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the economic recession, and the insecurity in the country.
They also asked the government to provide them with incentives, such as tax relief, waivers, and subsidies, to enable them to survive and grow. They said they were willing to cooperate with the government and comply with the rules and regulations of the industry.
They also urged the government to create a level playing field for all operators and protect them from unfair competition and harassment from state agencies and illegal operators.
