Multiple Taxation: AAC Guber Candidate Iboro Otu promises succour for transporters

By Ofonime Honesty 

Transporters under the aegis of Township Drivers Association in Akwa Ibom State have been assured of serious action against perceived multiple taxes and levies imposed on them by the Akwa Ibom State Government.

This was handed down on Friday by the Governorship Candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Mr Iboro Otu, when he visited the head office of the association in Uyo to verify recent media reports on the issue.

The Governorship Candidate, who was accompanied by the State Chairman of the party, Mr Utip Etiebiet, and other executive members and candidates of the party was received by the state executive council of the association, who confirmed that each commercial bus driver in the state pay monies totalling nearly 50,000 Naira per month to government under multiple subheads.

Addressing the AAC delegation, President of the association, Comrade Charles Ekpo, described as unbearable, a situation where individual drivers have to pay about five hundred and seventy five thousand Naira (575,000 Naira) yearly for daily tickets and multiple levies.

Comrade Ekpo, who said the situation has taken a huge toll on their business, also divulged that his association is against government's move to compel them pay for fresh biometric exercise despite a subsisting one in place, payment  for two city permits in the same year, payment of two drivers and conductors badges in the same year, payment of two pollution/gaseous emission vehicle certificates in the same, quarterly payment for Plastic Waste Disposal Basket at the rate of 5000 Naira after payment had been made for Sanitation/ Pollution Permit and Sewage Disposal Permit, and payment of exorbitant road worthiness renewal at the rate of 7000 Naira.

The president also complained of frequent cases of arrests, detention, assault, extortion, harassment, intimidation by agents enforcing the multiple taxes and levies.

He also stated that his association had to approach the Akwa Ibom State High Court for redress following years of suffering without respite, and revealed he and some members of his executive committee where recently arrested on grounds that they are working for opposition parties in the state.

On why sister associations have not joined the agitation, the association revealed that leaders of those associations are not transporters but politicians who are only there to satisfy the cravings of their paymasters.

"We are drivers, leaders of other transport associations are not there to protect the interest of drivers because they (leaders) are not on the streets like us. We are the transporters, if government should work with any association, it should be us because we are the ones who wear the shoes, so we know where it pinches."

While thanking the AAC Candidate for being the first ever governorship candidate to visit and listen to their plight, he enjoined him to make the transportation sector a priority if he is elected in 2023.

The candidate in his response expressed dismay over the issue and promised to write officially to the relevant ministries and also to the Governor, for relevant action to be taken.

Otu described as height of insensitivity and exploitation, the exorbitant multiple levies imposed on the transporters, and promised that his administration will give proper attention to the sector given its importance in any society.

He decried a situation whereby a driver operating a vehicle acquired on hire purchase struggles to meet up with the multiple levies, remit returns to the vehicle owner and still have leftover funds to cater for family needs.

He said given the precarious situation of the economy, taxation of transporters should be reduced, or even suspended.

"Road users, market women and farmers should have tax breaks. I have jobs for you, jobs that are sustainable and carry dignity, not ones that someone will stand on the road and struggle steering with drivers. We need to start thinking differently," he stated.

The governorship hopeful also suggested that instead of imposing cumbersome levies on commercial drivers thereby forcing them out of business, the state government should rather expand the state's commercial transport scheme to absorb the transporters.

He promised to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that the plight of the transporters is reversed.

State Chairman of the AAC, Dr Utip Etiebiet equally condemned the issue and applauded the transporters for tackling it legally instead of resorting to self help.

He promised that his party if elected in 2023 will usher in prosperity and development in the state.

Secretary General, Comrade Abel Jeremiah;  Public Relations Officer, Comrade Bassey Udofia and other exco members took turns to bare their minds during the session.