Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has directed the State Board of Internal Revenue to suspend the collection of taxes in all markets across the state with immediate effect.
The directive according to the Governor, is to cushion the effects of the hardship imposed on traders following the scarcity of currency notes in the wake of the Naira redesign policy.
Ikpeazu who gave the directive while addressing traders at the Good Morning Market Aba said his administration was concerned about the plight of traders over the prevailing economic challenges.
A statement issued later by his Chief Press Secretary, Onyebuchi Ememanka, quoted the Governor as saying: “Currency Redesign Policy has made life difficult for the average Nigerian but the traders are worst hit.”
The statement made available to Ikengaonline further read: “They cannot have access to the little money they have in deposit money banks and some of these businesses still exist at the subsistence level. It will therefore be difficult to expect these traders to also pay taxes to Government under the present circumstances.”
Ikpeazu appealed to traders and all citizens to wait patiently for the Federal Government to stabilise the currency situation in the country.
