Anambra traders lament tax burden under Soludo

Market men and women at the Eke Awka market in Awka South local government council of Anambra State have lamented over the new taxi regime introduced by Governor Charles Soludo.

Those lamenting include sellers of petty items such as vegetable, Okoro, groundnut and hawkers who are being levied N200 on daily basis.

Findings revealed that shops owners in the market are being taxed N14, 200.00 while the hawkers are randomly forced to pay N200 at various time and places on a daily basis.

During a meeting with Parks and Market executives in Awka, Soludo had hinted that he would introduce a new tax regime in the state.

He said the tax regime was imperative because the era of revenue generation through the sale of crude oil was gradually phasing out.

According to him, since February, the NNPC had not remitted money into the federation account as money accruable from the sale of crude oil was gradually dwindling.

Last week, manager of Eke Awka Market, announced that every trader there had between Tuesday and Friday to pay N14, 200 as stallage rent and others fees.

Speaking in Awka, the former chairman of Eke Awka Market 4B, Emeka Onyemaechi, said “Last week Thursday, I was inside my shop and some people started ringing bells announcing that everybody should come out and pay for stallage and other fees from Tuesday.

“I asked them how much and they said N14,200.00 per shop. On Friday, I went to Anambra state board of internal revenue to find the true position. The information I got was that on Tuesday, they were coming to capture all shops in the market and everybody will pay N2, 000 for the capturing and after that government will give account numbers where traders will pay their fees.

“Unfortunately, on Tuesday (a public holiday), they started the capturing and collection the money. They forced people to the market office where over 20 POSs were stationed and people without cash were asked to use their ATM to pay. After that, I called the revenue office again and complained, they said we should pay,” he added.

He called on the state government to quickly address the issues of hiring private persons to collect revenue for the state government.

Another trader in the market, Mr Kene Obunna, said it was sad that the government was just forcing people to pay revenue.

He said he is using young men to intimidate people to pay or risk being beaten.

An elderly woman, Mrs Nkiru Obiora, who hawks vegetable in the market, said that it was tough for them coming to the market and paying multiple taxes.

According to her, she pays up to N600 any day she brought vegetable into the market, adding, “If you argue with the collectors, they will beat you without minding your age.”

A source at the Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue, confirmed that the state government has approved N14,200 payment for payment in eke Awka market.

According to him, government commenced the enumeration of traders in the market last Tuesday and after the capturing everybody was given a code number to go and pay into government approved banks and POSs.

He said the payment is N12, 200.00 and N2000 for the capturing of traders, thereby bringing them to N14, 200.

However, when contacted the state Commissioner for Commence, Dr. Obinna Ngonadi, said he could not comment on the matter.

But the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Christian Aburime, said government would issue a statement on the issue at the appropriate time.

Below is the breakdown of the Eke Awka market fee.

• Market stallage fee — N4,800.00
• Market development fee-N2,400.00
• Market traders fee N3,000.00
• Pollution /sanitation fee N2,000.00
• Biometric market registration N700.00
• Market operation fee N1, 300.00. (Daily Trust)