Maduako Igbokwe I Monday, August 07, 2023
AWKA – Anambra State Shuttle Bus Drivers Forum (ASRBDF) have appealed to the governor of Anambra State Prof Charles Soludo to protect them from the hands of touts, who are terrorising them .
The group’s Secretary Mr Akubilo Ifeanyi who spoke with our reporter in Awka Anambra state capital after their weekly meeting said they are being harassed and terrorised by Agboro despite being banned.
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He said Agboro are still extorting money from them in all places in the state ,thereby stealing from them and the government.
According to Akubilo, those people engaging in the illegal operations in the state are well known persons and their sponsors are also known.
“We are suffering from multiple taxations as a results of the operations of touts in the state. In onitsha, the Agboros collect N700 , N3000 in ifite Awka and the same amount at Unizik -Eke Awka axis on daily basis” he stated. He also expressed sadness how they paid into government accounts and the money will not reflect.
According to him,most of those who paid are being detained by the government enforcement teams made up of touts. They detain their vehicles for days and at the end they are forced to pay for those days their motors were illegal detained.
“We are not happy that when our shuttle buses are in mechanics for three months ,we will still pay.We are not happy that when a driver go for examinations,he will still pay. We are not happy that when our buses are detained by the Agboro or enforcement team,we will be forced to pay again. We are ready to support and corporate with the government but government must help us with these challenges of Agboro harassing us , paying when our motors did not work and others .
“We are confused about the enforcement teams,there are alot of them, some are wearing green and the other wearing red. We don’t know the one to follow. Anambra State Internal Revenue Service AIRS should help us with the right enforcement team and account to pay into” he lamented.
He also said that their members complianed that the enforcement teams will arrest those who had not paid and collect money from them, allow them to go to works for the day and continue to collect money from them the next day.
According to him,by their actions , they are denying the state government reasonable sum of money and robbing the shuttle drivers too because, if any person resist them, that will amount to serious beatings .
The shuttle bus drivers begged the governor to build Public parks for them for loading.
The forum secretary said that the governor promised them parks , but that any park they drive into to load they are forced to pay huge money because the operators claimed there are not public parks. He also appealed with the governor to help them to provide public parks where they will not be taxed much.
Akubilo however, expressed gratitude to the governor,Prof Charles Soludo for the wonderful work he is doing in the state, especially roads constructions and others.
According to him,the shuttle drivers will continue to support and corporate with the governor to pay their taxes,but the governor should lessen their pains by removing the louts on the roads, making sure the payment are recorded in the government accounts and and not pay when they did not work.
Speaking at the meeting,the Convener of the meeting comrade Osita Obi assured the members of shuttle drivers of his readiness to assist them to meet those who will help in mitigating their sufferings ,but urged them to first key into soludo digital tax by paying regularly as at when due.
He urged the shuttle drivers to make efforts to pay the right taxes to the government and gradually make their case to the governor and appropriate government agencies.
According to him,the governor is a father who listens to cries of his children and more over he is doing well in the state.
He regretted that the average Igboman does not want to pay tax and levies, noting that since 2018 he moved into Anambra state Anambra state from Abuja, waste management agency has been packing and disposing his waste and he has not paid anything to government.
According to him,he volunteered to help any member who is arrested so long he pays his taxes as at when due. He said that Anambra state belongs to all of them and they cannot allow touts to take it over.
“Call me any place you are arrested by the enforcement team or the Agboro,but if you are owing government, driving one way or parking wrongly,please don’t call me” he stated.
He also urged the shuttle drivers to go into the market and buy their waste bins and put inside their motors as the OCHA Brigade will commence operation keep Anambra clean by Tuesday.
According to him,this government allow the drivers and Keke riders to make choice where to buy their waste baskets.
“You can go into market and buy or buy from the OCHA Brigade office,but one thing is that you must have the basket before Tuesday” he said.
