Traders at the Eke Awka market in Awka South local government council of Anambra State have decried a new tax regime introduced by Governor Charles Soludo.
Those lamenting include sellers of petty items such as vegetables, Okoro, groundnut and hawkers who are being levied N200 on daily basis.
It was gathered that shop owners in the market are being taxed N14,200.00 while the hawkers are randomly forced to pay N200 at various times 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 been struggling to remit money into the federation account as money accruable from the sale of crude oil was gradually dwindling.
Last week, a manager at Eke Awka Market, announced that every trader had between Tuesday and Friday to pay N14,2000 as rent and other fees.
Former chairman of Eke Awka Market 4B, Emeka Onyemaechi, said, “Last week Thursday, I was inside my shop and some people started ringing bell announcing that everybody should come out and pay their rents and other fees from Tuesday.
“I asked them how much and they said N14,200.00 per shop. On Friday, I went to the Anambra State board of internal revenue to find the true position.
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“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 of 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 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, Kene Obunna, said it was sad the government was forcing people to pay revenue. He said he was using young men to intimidate people to pay or risk being beaten.
An elderly woman, Nkiru Obiora, who hawks vegetables in the market, said it was tough for them coming to the market to pay multiple taxes.
According to her, she pays about N600 any day she brings vegetables to the market, adding.
A source at the Anambra State Board of Internal Revenue confirmed that the government has approved N14,200 payment in Eke Awka market.
According to him, the 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.
When contacted, the state commissioner for commerce, Obinna Ngonadi, said he could not comment on the matter.
But the chief press secretary to the governor, Christian Aburime, said government would issue a statement on the issue at the appropriate time.
