By Okey Maduforo Awka.
Transporters in Anambra state under the umbrella of Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria RTEAN have issued a two week ultimatum on the Anambra state government to stop illegal taxation on its members to the tune of over N 3 Billion.
The body also stated that at the expiration of the two weeks ultimatum if government fails to dialogue with it all Keke Tricycle, mini buses and heavy duty trucks would withdraw their services to the state.
Rising from the meeting of the Association the state chapter Chairman of the body Amb Joseph Chinedu Nwabueze said ,
“We have written letters and memos to the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service about this illegal taxation on our members as well as the attacks on our drivers and vehicles by the touts who claim to be revenue agents ”
“We had earlier issued twenty one days ultimatum on them but they failed to call us to a meeting to look into this day light rip off on our members ”
“Consequent upon this development we have issued a two weeks ultimatum on the state government to address this matter and at the expiration of the ultimatum we would have no option but to withdraw our services to the state until it is addressed ”
“We shall resist this illegality and make sure that our members are not forced to pay those illegal taxation since November till this year running into over N 3 Billion “he said.
Nwabueze further lamented that though President Ahmed Bola Tinubu has announced that there should be no taxation on food items the touts have been collecting taxes from drivers leading to the high cost of food in the state.
“You will recall that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu had banned taxes on food items but this people are still collecting taxes from us and this is adversely affecting the cost of food stuffs in our markets because the business men and women would add the cost to their goods.” he said.
