Mass protests by tricycle operators and commercial taxi drivers in Anambra state over the newly introduced taxes by Governor Chukwuma Soludo have paralised economic activities in major parts of the state and the protesters are insisting on continuing the protest until it is reverted.
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.
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 riders were 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.
But the commercial road users protests around Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia axis since Wednesday to Thursday evening, argued that the amounts were expensive for them to remit considering that they drive hire purchase vehicles.
A keke operator, Mr Ikechi Anake, stated that previously, they pay N450 everyday with exemption of Sundays, adding that Soludo’s administration tax rate of N15,000 per month was costlier to them compared to N450 being paid to Agbero everyday (excluding Sundays).
“Secondly, they asked us to register with government at rate of N1,500, and those agberos are telling us to come and register N1,500 with them making it N3,000 registration,” Anake added.
