Commercial drivers in Anambra State under the aegis of Main Market Electrical Drivers Welfare Association, MEDWAS, on Tuesday, embarked on a peaceful demonstration over Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s proposed new tax of N25,000 per month.
The demonstration exercise was kick started by the drivers as soon as MEDWAS chairman, Mr. Michael Mbele broke the news to them and confirmed that arrangements had been concluded to start enforcing the payment after a meeting with a team of state government officials from Awka.
According to Mbele, “I did not issue the directive in my capacity, I only passed on the information handed down to me by a team of state government officials after talks were held on the new proposed tax rate.
“As a driver too, I feel that the new tax of N25,000 is on the roof tops and I am also calling on the state government to have a rethink on the implementation, which could lead to more suffering on the part of the drivers.”
However, the drivers, took to the streets, demanding clarification from Governor Soludo, who had suspended the payment of any form of tax and levy until he recently announced the introduction of a digitalized payment system, of N4,000 monthly which according to a spokesman of the protesting drivers, Mr. Magnus Dike mandated them to pay to a private firm set up by the state government to collect tax on its behalf.
Dike lament that most of the drivers don’t own vehicles, this makes it difficult for most of the drivers to even fend for themselves not to talk of paying, he however plead with the government to revisit his decision.
While commending the governor for his efforts so far in restoring sanity on the roads another driver, Mr Chuks Nnadozie, appealed for a reduction in the new tax due to the bad roads in the state.