… ‘TRANSPAY was Made to Save Us, not to Kill Us
By Michael Nnebife
The Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Awka Zone, has given the Anambra Internal Revenue Service, AIRS, a 3-week ultimatum to stop what it calls anti-illegal revenue collection officers from extorting its members and also resolve discrepancies, as well as inefficiency of a revenue collection device, TRANSPAY, newly introduced by the Service, to enable transport workers in the state to pay taxes as they work.
This is coming when the members of the Association gathered at Awka South Local Government Secretariat, Amawbia, on Monday 20th January, for their monthly meeting.
While reacting to a series of complaints made by the Keke riders which included extortion, discrepancies and inefficiency of AIRS’ TRANSPAY device, among others, the Chairman of the Association, Prince Collins Ozojiofor, expressed displeasure over the developments, saying the Association would not fold its arms watching anybody intimidating its members in any form.
He said, ‘Though the Executive Chairman, AIRS, Dr Greg Ezeilo, means well for Keke people, but the issue with the TRANSPAY inspector is not our business.
‘If they (AIRS) are fighting, Keke riders should not be the ones to suffer it.
‘The reason for the TRANSPAY as they told us, is to enable us to pay as we work. So, I was thinking that it would reduce the amount we pay, but now the reverse is the case.
‘So, from now till 15th of next month, if they do not resolve that issue, and every other thing happening on the main road, we will stop paying tax and also attract the attention of Governor Chukwuma Soludo,’ Prince Ozojiofor stressed, lamenting that TRANSPAY was made to save them and not to kill.
Condemning double taxation in its entirety, Ozojiofor accused one Mr Ebuka of extorting and intimidating the Keke riders under false claims.
‘We will not be paying double tax; the officials of the AIRS would give us a reasonable answer to that effect. We have given them from now till 15th of next month for that. If they do not, we will go on a protest,’ the Keke leader hinted.
‘The Anti-Illegal Revenue Collection Enforcers have no right to stop you and collect money from you, otherwise they commit extortion in a high place.
‘If they stop you next time and ask you for money, call me; we will give them back to back,’ he told the Keke riders amid their cheers.
While appealing for calm, Ozojiofor advised the Keke riders to always show the spirit of brotherhood among themselves, remain law-abiding and continue to support the Soludo Administration.
He however, praised Governor Soludo for his Agunechemba and Udo Ga-Chi Security Outfit, expressing optimism that the security outfit would bring about lasting peace in the state.
In an interview with newsmen, the Vice Chairman of the Association, Mr Alexander Nwafor, said the meeting offered the Keke riders an opportunity to iron out the common challenges facing them.
The meeting, which also aimed at reorienting the keke riders on the need to stay clear of crimes, had in attendance, the Chairman, Awka South LGA, Prince Chinedu Okafor, represented by the Local Government Secretary, Sir Peter Uyanwune; the Senior Special Assistants to Governor Soludo on Security, Prince JohnChris Chigbo and Hon Kingsley Ezika; the Anambra State Chairman and the Secretary of the Association, Comrade Innocent Obaga and Elvis Okolie; respectively; AIRS and TRANSPAY officials, Sylvester Uzoh and Timothy Arira respectively, among other dignitaries.
Responding, the AIRS Official, Mr Uzoh, and his TRANSPAY counterpart, Mr Arira, admitted the complaints the Keke riders made and assured that the issues would be resolved by the agencies as soon as possible.
In their separate remarks, the State Chairman and the Secretary of the Association, Obaga and Okolie, respectively, advised Keke riders to always be security conscious and maintain proper sense of decorum, especially while on duty to give Keke riding business what they called dignity of labour.
