Maduako Igbokwe I Saturday, August 05, 2023
AWKA, Nigeria – Anambra State Shuttle Drivers have expressed disappointment over what they described as non-reflections of their taxes in government accounts.
The shuttle drivers who met at the Dr Ekwueme square on Friday in the presence of Department of State Services DSS, representative Chief Security to governor Charles Soludo said the government should look inward and rectify whatever is responsible for the omission.
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They said that the harassment from the enforcement teams are enough distractions to them. The shuttle drivers lamented that they are being punished for errors of government,which ought not to be so.
“We pay into the government coffers through the dedicated POS but the enforcement team will still arrest us for non-payment,even with receipts of payment. Our members are being harassed and intimidated by government officials” they stated.
They also commended the governor for the good work he is doing in the state ,especially the roads construction and they promised to pay their taxes as and when due. The shuttle drivers also appealed to the governor to allow them to pay only when their vehicles are at work.
“It is not good for us to pay taxes when our vehicles are in the mechanics,when the driver is sick and the bus is packed. Sometimes our vehicles could be in the mechanics for months and it would not be wise for us to pay within the period” they stated.
Speaking at the meeting,the Convener, Comrade Osita Obi appealed to drivers to unite and work towards working in harmony with the state government.
According to him,it is only when they work in unity that the government can listen to whatever their challenges are. He called on them to shelve any plan of protest to press home their demands from the government as it would aggravate the situation.
“I’m not here to contest for chairmanship of the union. In the first place iI am not qualified and above I am 62 years old,I don’t have the strength again. But I’m here to let you people know that I’m aware that most of the payments some of you make do not get to government,yet taskforce still disturb you,even when you have paid.
“The mistake of the government cannot be visited on the innocent shuttle drivers who have paid their taxes. And for you,to have your issue addressed ,you must be united and present your case to the authority for solution.
“You complained about paying when your vehicles are out of service,this, you have to articulate and present to government for action. You don’t pay when your vehicles are with the mechanics. I don’t know how you will pay when you are sick and admitted in the hospital. I don’t know how you will pay when your motors are not on duty. You need to approach the governor before the option of strike” he said.
According to him,the governor is doing well and a listening person, shuttle drivers should support him by paying their levies,taxes and demand for accountability from him.
“We must unite and tell the governor where he is not doing well and praise him where he is doing well” he stated.
Speaking, one of shuttle drivers Mr Isiah Odume regretted that the government mode of operation in the enforcement of the tax collection is like enslaving them. He advised that the governor should put the right people in charge of the revenue enforcement and collections.
According to him,they are suffering in the hands of those in charge of revenue collection and governor should do something to mitigate their suffering.
Also another shuttle driver, Mr Ochili Enernest urged the state government to create more bus stops close to each other. He said that buses plying town services should have bus stops located closer to each other.
“From Aroma to Temp site,we have just two bus stops and people alight along. This single none planning of bus stops is affecting us. The enforcement teams see the poor planing as ATM to enrich themselves by harassing and beating up shuttle drivers at little or no provocation.
“Government should build bus -stops for us to do our business and be able to pay our taxes” he said
