According to Premium Times, Mr. Ekong, The president of the forum made the threat in an interview in Abuja on Thursday, he said that the director of the board had challenged the hike in the charges, saying that it would lead to irreversible price increase in hotel services.
He also said that, "As if the prevailing harsh economic environment is not enough, on June 1, the AEPB issued a new billing regime to our members, which reflects more than 1,683 percent increase."
"This is over and above the provisions of the Waste Management Regulation of 2005, which is in the gazette. The said new bills were retroactively backdated to January 2012.
"It is noted that the increase in this new price regime is the highest rate ever witnessed in the history of price adjustment in the FCT."
According to reports, Mr Ekong said that the forum has given the board one month ultimatum to reverse the hike in waste charges, otherwise, the association would hold a street protest after which it would go to court.
According to Mr Ekong, the board had given the hotels 21 days notice to pay the bill to avoid the shutdown of hotels in Abuja.
Reports says that the Director, AEPB, Isah Shuiabu, said that the hospitality industry and other commercial ventures had been grossly under-charged by the board, hence the need for an increase. He said that the increase was not based on arbitrary administrative decision, but on technical objectives.
He said the waste charges would not only be on the number of rentable rooms, but on all other activities generating waste.
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