COVID19: Stop payment of all levies, Anambra Keke Union warns members

ANAMBRA, Awka

The Tricycle owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), Anambra State Chapter, an affiliate of Trade Union Congress (TUC), has called on all its members to stop all forms of payment to any persons during this period.

This is in line with Anambra State directive to ban all illegal collection of Government levies and dues from tricycle operators in the state as a result COVID-19 pandemic.

THE DAILY VENDOR correspondent gathered that members of the Keke Union have been lamenting against illegal dues and levies imposed on them by their leaders before a statement released on 8th April 2020 where the Anambra State Chairman, Keke Union, Comrade Obiorah Sylvester, enjoined the Security agencies to henceforth, arrest any person found extorting money from Keke riders across the state.

The Union’s state chairman however, called on the Security agencies to henceforth, arrest any person found extorting money from Keke Riders across the state.

One of the Keke driver who simply identified himself as Obele narrated his ordeal in the hands of these defaulters.

“Few days ago some group of boys who claimed to be from the Keke Union leaders defied Government orders by going to different Keke loading locations in Awka and forcefully selling tickets to us”

“I had to pay N450 or I get beaten up, even when I pleaded to them that it’s my second loading yet they said I must buy the tickets, he bemoaned”.

Another driver, Ifeanyichukwu who ply Aroma to commissioners quarters accused the Union of selling substandard hand sanitizers at the cost of N1,200 to them.

Further Investigation revealed that the Keke Union/taskforce made some of them to suspend work until 6pm when taskforce should have closed work officially.

Corroborating the statements, one of the ticket sellers confided in our reporter that they were forced by the Union to sell the tickets and since they do not want to lose their job they had to take the risk.

The Keke drivers however called on His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano to come to their aid, while some aggrieved tricycle drivers asked the governor to reduce the amount that was collected in each Keke loading points in the state.