Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
Tricycle operators have paralysed economic activities in various parts of Anambra state, as they protest tax a new regime by Governor Charles Soludo administration in Anambra State.
Governor Soludo had approved a new rate for transport sectors in the state which indicated that henceforth, motorcycle operators (Okada riders), would pay N300 daily at N7, 500 monthly, N21, 000 with a discount of N1,500 for one quarter or N40, 500 with a discount of N4, 500 for half a year.
According to a statement from the office of Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS), signed by the head, Taxpayer Education and Enlightenment Team, Mrs Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige, under the new tax, Keke riders would be paying N600 daily at the cost of N15,000 monthly, or N42,000 with a discount of N3,000 for one quarter or N81, 000 with a discount of N9, 000 for half a year.
Similarly, Shuttle/Buses’ daily pay would be N1,000 at the rate of N25, 000 monthly or N70,000 with a discount of N5, 000 for one quarter or N135, 000 with a discount of N15, 000 for half a year.
The daily tax rate for taxi drivers are N700 or N17, 500 for one month, N49,000 quarterly with a discount of N3,500 while N94, 500 with a discount of N11, 000 is for half a year; while N1, 200 daily is for Township Bus operators at the cost of N30,000 for one month, N84,000 with a discount of N6,000 for one quarter and N162, 000 with a discount of N18,000 for half a year.
Pick up Van daily fee is N1, 000 at the cost of N25,000 for one month, N70,000 with a discount of N5,000 for one quarter and N135, 000 with a discount of N15,000 for half a year.
The tricyclists who stormed the government house blocked the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, particularly the popular Aroma Junction, causing heavy traffic along the expressway.
Members of the group with placards complained bitterly against the high tax rate by the state government which they described as harsh and outrageous.
“They (officials) are asking us to pay N15, 000 to the Keke union, and a daily payment of N500. Our daily ticket used to be N450, and we were even appealing to the government to reduce it because it is high, but instead, they increased it to N500.
“Most of us that you see here are graduates who are managing their lives because there is no job for others. Some are driving their Keke on hire purchase basis,” one of the protesters said.
Some of the operators told newsmen that the country was already hard, and the governor cannot create additional hardship for them, stressing that this kind of policy is inimical to them even as they urged the governor to lessen their hardship.
However, the State Government denied any involvement in the plan to subject tricycle riders to higher taxes.
The Spokesperson of Anambra State Internally Generated Revenue Board, Mrs Tochukwu Ngige said that the protest may not be against Governor Soludo as he has further simplified the payment of the tricyclists.
