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Truck owners protest multiple taxation

By on May 27, 2013

Hundreds of  Truck Owners Association in Ogun State, weekend, protested  the alleged multiple taxation leveled against them by   the officials  of  the  state  government  and alleged plan by the government to increase the haulage tax fees.

The  protesters    threatened to relocate their investments to  the neighbouring  states if  the  state government  goes ahead  with the planned   increase through an executive bill which   had been allegedly  sent by  the governor  to the House of Assembly to effect the  increase of  the tax.

The state  chairman of the association, Lekan  Adegun alleged  that apart from    “the outrageous  tax, there are other two taxes that  we  pay, one of which is a  local government tax.”

“We see this as a deliberate  attempt to cripple our business so, if the government does not rescind its decision we will have no choice than to shift our businesses to either Lagos or Oyo States.

“Even the present N1,200 tax we are paying is too much but because we want to support the State economy that is why we have agreed to pay”.

“We have  sought an audience with the State legislature and  it (assembly) asked us to write a  Memorandum of Understanding which we did but, it appears to us that none of our opinions was considered.

“If the government insists on passing that law, it will overstretch our businesses and we will have no choice but relocate,” the Chairman said.

Reacting to the  threat by  the truck owners association, Commissioner for Commerce  and Industry, Bimbo Ashiru  pledged to address their issues.

Ashiru  while addressing    newsmen  said that, the government has taken note of the issues and would  soon resolve the problems.

He said “ we have told them to be calm and that we will do something about it. The issue of multiple taxation in the state will be addressed , they don’t need to leave the state.”

 

 

[Vanguard]