…as taxi drivers down tools
EMMA OBI, Calabar
Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has reassured taxi drivers and other low income earners of exemption from paying any form of taxations or levies in the state.
According to Ayade, this position is to make life more meaningful for the low income earners in view of the harsh economic realities.
Rev. Father Julius Ada, secretary of the State’s Anti-Tax Agency, reiterated the Governor’s position on Monday in Calabar while addressing taxi drivers who were protesting over alleged taxations and payment of levies to various agencies.
It would be recalled that those who were going to work from various parts of Calabar metropolis were stranded as roads were dry because of a strike, unexpectedly embarked by taxi drivers in the city.
Rev Father Ada said, “You are not supposed to pay taxes. The governor has in his magnanimity, exempted you and very soon, we will have a town hall meeting where all the local government chairmen will be called to have a briefing and we will all let them know that you are a free group of people from taxation so we encourage you to call off your strike.
“We are representing all the local governments today and we are going to come out with what we call a brigade. The brigade will be on their uniform, and when you see them on their uniform, you can call them on their hotline and we will get down to wherever you are and then we will take appropriate action against such illegal tax collectors”.
“The governor is so sad about the number of illegal checkpoints and illegal ticketing. He established the anti-tax agency and urged the agency to stop illegal tax collections, illegal haulages and to stop molestation of the poor. As taxi drivers, you are free people, I want to thank you for this peaceful demonstration, do not be people that will bring trouble to the state.”
Ada stressed further that “The governor decided to take men and women of God to see how they can ameliorate the plight of the downtrodden, we are not politicians, we are out to protect you, we are doing the right thing and can assure you that you are being protected”.
It would be recalled that recently, motor cycle riders popularly known as okada riders in the Calabar Metropolis participated in filling potholes in the city in appreciation of the fact that they have been exempted from paying taxes and levies.
Responding on behalf of the taxi drivers, Emmanuel Chukwu of the Drivers Association at Stadium Unit said they are not protesting against ticketing alone but against a new team that has been extorting money from the drivers.
Chukwu recalled an example where a driver paid more than N70, 000 at their office at Cultural Centre “and we have been going there but they are faceless because we don’t know where they are”.
“Why we are here is not for ticketing alone we are here because we have a team where we don’t know where they come from.
“When you park motor, they will double cross you. I have experienced it severally in my unit and I have gone to their office to talk to them “As the state chairman, I have gone to the commissioner for transport and they say they don’t know then as well as the Minister of Environment. We have DOPT we are contented with that; we have police and are contented with them but where are these civilians? They have been extorting money from us and this has given us sleepless nights and we want to beg government that drivers are also in the chains of production. Without the driver, there will be no vehicles on the roads. We want the government to hear our voice”. Chukwu appealed.
Similarly, a driver who simply gave his name as Ukpabi said; “We have been very law abiding, we are not supposed to be here, if you ask me, we are supposed to be at the governor’s office but today we decided to be at the police station, Dimond Hill, Calabar for the protest.
Ukpabi regretted that ; “It is only when we come out like this that they will come and say they are taking proactive measures and it is not done. We appeal to the government to help us from the hands of these extortionists.
In a telephone conversation, Chairman Cross River State Anti- Tax Agency, Bishop Dr. Emmah Isong said; “The Anti- Tax Agency has done all in her powers to enforce His Excellency’s Tax Exemption policies which has been widely celebrated by Cross Riverians, but despite these efforts some people still try to frustrate government’s good intentions.
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