We Are Embarking On An Indefinite Strike Against Double Taxes/Levies In Nigeria -Unions Warn
Yakubu Ventim
The National Union of Road Transport Workers, National Association of Road Transport Owners, an Allah Fulani Development Association of Nigeria, Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria ,Nigeria Association of Agricultural Products Dealers ,Miyetti Allah Breeders Association and Nigeria Lorry Drivers Association have all threatened to embark on an indefinite strike action to press in their demand if taxes on charge highway are not comply by state governors.
The spokesperson of joint Association, Chairman of Nigeria Association of Agricultural Products Dealers Plateau state chapter, Mr. Yusuf Samuel Hamman who have appealed to federal and the state governors to as a matter of urgency comply with the federal government order on doubles taxation within 24 hours of briefing or face mass protest across the 36 states.
Hamman made this disclosure at a world press conference held at the federal Secretariat headquarters of NAAPD on Wednesday in Jos North Local Government Area.
According to him, the group gave the governors 24 hours ultimatum to implement that agreement as a matter of urgency or face stiff resistance from their members.
We are appealing to all stakeholders to ensure that state governors comply with the federal government laws on taxes/ levies before next month by ending the suffering of our people or face mass protest across the 36 states of the country.
The state chairman disclosed that NAAPD and the stakeholders’ forum express gratefulness with federal government particularly minister of agriculture and rural development Chief Audu Ogbe for tireless effort.
Hamman stated that the forum is crying out publicly to federal government to acknowledge their predicament on multiple taxation on agro-commodities which government directive s were given but continuously lack implementation.
He explained that illegal check point mounted by consultant and hoodlums along federal high ways within 36 states has caused a lot of havoc to agro commodity dealers and their transporters.
He emphasized that state governments should concentrate at establish market where revenue can be generated from services rendered as approved, by National council on Agriculture NACA, National Economic council NEC and also government laws on tax and levies which prohibit collection of revenues.
He added that the governors and commissioners of police in various state are seriously compromising especially those of Benue, Kogi, Plateau, Nasarawa, Niger, Enugu, IMO, Cross river, Abia and ekiti state not ready to serve the IGP and the country at large.
“we are crying out to the federal government to act to curb this menace on your federal highways and plead to all security agencies to desist from aiding and abating this form of crime committed by these consultant and hoodlums busy extorting monies from transporters of agro-commodities.
“We need to bring sanity to our federal and rural roads for security reasons. The country is having its agricultural product rejected internationally because the consultant and hoodlums will not allow the appropriate authority to perform their statutory function of inspection and certification at the control post”. He said.
He stressed that,” this has resulted to multiple taxations by state governments, unjustified intimidation and harassment, assaults of their members by also confiscation and destruction of agro- commodities.
Hamman condemned illegal check points mounted by government consultants/hoodlums along federal highways within States had cause a lot of havoc to agro-commodity Dealers and their transporters.
