…vow to fight the revenue collectors if they continued to demand the high tariff
Inter-state commercial divers who ply to and from Anambra State, and loaders of wares, Friday, reportedly embarked on strike over the high tariff imposed by Government on commercial drivers over loading and off loading of wares.
They vowed to fight the revenue collectors if they continued to demand for the tariff.
Fielding questions on Saturday at a private motor park within Onitsha main market axis, the spokesman of the drivers, Chief Patrick Okeke, disclosed that sacked touts who are non drivers were given permits to collect revenue from drivers from both private and public markets and motor parts, disregarding Private/Government Partnership in revenue collection.
He said, “I am a truck/heavy duty driver and we carry goods to and from Anambra State to other states. How can Anambra State Government impose high tariff on us without our consent.
“That is why on Friday, we downed tools, others downed tools early this week but today we follow suit, even those who load and off loading goods were not left out as they are also levied for their services and so they joined us in the strike.
“Private market/park is managed by the owner, so long he pays the agreed amount to government. That is the Public Private Partnership. Touts coming to manage markets will cause crises in the markets.
“That those given the permits to collect revenue paid exorbitant amount to government will not warrant the traders and drivers to be taxed heavily.
“Our members who are carrying goods from other states to Anambra now divert to Asaba, Delta State and Aba, Abia State, because of the high tariff imposed on us by Anambra State Government.
“Funny enough, those given the permits to collect levy from us are touts, we know them. We will fight them if they continue to demand for the money from us again.
“It is these touts that deny peace being restored in the markets, parks and roads. Soon Government will start hearing of drivers being beaten up by the revenue collectors because they are the same touts sacked by the government.
“I wonder if the Government doesn’t know that these people are interested in their private pocket.”
On the alleged arrest of some market leaders by the DSS personnel while in a meeting with government on the same high tariff, with a view to finding a solution, Okeke said that whoever may have advised for the arrest of the market leaders did not want the progress of Anambra State.
“Whoever that suggested for the arrest of the market leaders do not bear the interest of the traders and Anambra State at heart. It was a bad advice, I heard the traders are threatening to protest the arrest,” he posited.
