Trucks drivers decry multiple taxation in Cross River
Trucks drivers in Cross River state have decried what they called multiple taxations in the state. The drivers, over the past years have allegedly been taxed severally by various government agencies in the state. Investigations revealed that each truck driver that carried a tipper of sand was subjected to multiple taxations by local and state government agencies.
“We spent up to N10, 000 a trip as each of the local government councils we passed through, revenue collectors mounted road blocks and extorted money from us”, one of the truck drivers, Aniekan Bassey, told our correspondent.
Speaking at the end of year party of the association, the State Chairman of Heavy Duty Truck Driver Association, Elder Ekpenyong Bassey, expressed regret that multiple taxations have affected the activities of the organizations negatively.
The Chairman noted that the association was working hard to remove touts who worked against the association’s objectives, commending the governor, Prof Ben Ayade for working towards reducing multiple taxations in the state.
Elder Ekpenyong also regretted the high cost of building materials in the country noting that it was only price of sand that has remained unchanged.
“When we talk about sand and tipper, a lot of families depend on it and many spent times to learn the profession and our members should be discipline and stop drinking while driving. We should maintain the integrity of the profession” Also speaking, the Chairman of Heavy Duty Trucks in Calabar Municipal Engineer Archibong Okon said that the association was currently facing enormous challenges.
He listed the challenges to includes, multiple taxations, bad roads and poor working environment and called on government to address the issues and provide incentives to drivers by empowering them. “We decried constant brutalization and embarrassment of our drivers by revenue agents, extortion and unnecessary impounding of our trucks by touts under the pretends of some government agencies and ministries in Calabar” and called on government to provide incentives for the members to procure trucks at affordable prices.
