By Godson Okon
Both concerned citizens and public affairs analyst, united mini trucks Drivers Association Anambra State chapter have protested over the incessant extortion and intimidation by the agents collecting revenues for Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AiRS).
Speaking to Newsmen yesterday on behalf of the Association in Onitsha, their chairman John Udeh lamented on the inhuman treatment been giving to them by the agents collecting AIRS in the state as this incessant extortion have caused untold hardship on them
Firstly, it is disheartening to note that the revenue agents in field collected money for goods and wares brought in Anambra markets in the name of Ego Ibu, It is a cause for concern as the agents has engaged in unscrupulous activities in the name of ego Ibu from both motorists,barrow pushers and comutters.he said
He implored to Anambra State Government to rectify this issue as this has now gradually affecting trading activities in all markets in Anambra State and putting smile on the faces of other neigbouring States like Delta
and Imo States
According to him, the remaining money of ego Ibu is seems to be unduly absorbed by high-level cabal agents associated wth collection of revenue which it is crucial to investigate them, as the Revenue agents are not using POS as agreed upon with government rather they collect cash at both boarder and markets.
Some people who spoke to Newsmen at different markets visited in the five Local Government Areas of the State warned the AI RS agents not to destroy efforts of Governor Soludo 's administration with different phases of lies.
According to them if this ugly activities of the AIRS agents not addressed ,it will create negative effect on the present government as it is a source of worry to people in the state.
In his Swift reaction on the development,the Anambra State Chairman Internal Revenue Service,Dr ,Greg Ezeilo said that Anambra State have their haulage tax which was divided into two categories, Up Stream and Down Stream, and noted that nothing like Ego Ibu or Offloading or loading tax .
According to him, Vehicles coming from neighboring State to offload their goods and wares pay down stream , while passing through the state pays upstream and show their receipt at the boarder to AIRS agents at the boarder.
Buttressing his point further, Ezeilo
said that traders from Eke Awka can come to Onitsha and buying Goods without paying any money to agents that any agents collecting such money will be penalized
"Take the pictures of such agents engaged in collections of Ego Ibu and send it to my office and action will be taken immidiately,be said.
Meanwhile , Yesterday in Onitsha Ogbo Efere Market chased the trucks drivers away as they said that the money being paid to the agents in the market is unbearable as they collect #4000,#6000#3000,#1000, from them in any goods loaded in that market, after paying government agreed tax.
Below are the different receipts been issued to the trucks drivers and barrow pushers and comutters in various markets in Onitsha metropolis and envions . It