Why we met with protesting shuttle bus, tricycle operators – Anambra govt

Officials of Anambra State government on Saturday met with commercial tricycles operators and shuttle bus drivers, over their two days strike action.

The operators had on Thursday and Friday, protested government’s insistence on N15,000 monthly as tax.

The protesters who refused to ferry passengers around the state capital also complained that beyond the N15,000 levy, touts who have been outlawed in the state were still collecting revenues from them.

Addressing both shuttle and keke operators at Ekwueme square, Deputy Governor, Dr. Onyeka Ibezim assured that government was making frantic efforts to resolve the revenue issue which necessitated his presence at the meeting.

He said, “We call on the union to conduct themselves in an orderly manner so that their views will be heard to enable government take decisions that will benefit all, as the state government places the priority of all its citizens in due considerations.”

Also speaking, Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Security, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi (Rtd) described the meeting as a democratic approach in having a direct link with tricycle riders in settling the revenue issue.

He said, “The resistance was probably from misunderstanding or intentional misinformation from the leadership as the agreement was made initially with proper consultations with the unions.

“The meeting has provided us the ample opportunity to have direct contact with the riders and drivers and we promise that more meetings will be held to resolve the issue.”

Some Keke riders who spoke during the meeting, including Mr. Anthony Ejike and Mr. Ifeanyi emphasized that the N15,000 monthly pay by tricycle riders is quite huge to be paid once and suggested for a reduction and a convenient payment process to be arranged.

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