Benin City -As some traders under the aegis of Coalition of Traders and Artisans in Oredo Local Government Area yesterday in Benin took their complaints to Edo state Government over alleged increased levies by officials of Oredo local government Council,the state Deputy Governor,Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu has assured that the state government would look into the issues affecting them.
The deputy governor gave the assurance while addressing the aggrieved traders, saying that he was happy with the peaceful manner they were going about the issue,adding that they have right to complain about any thing they felt was not good for them.
“You have come to complain about what is uncomfortable for you because you believe Obaseki Government is responsive and responsible,so, we will look into the matter.
But I want you to know that what ever tax in form of levy goes directly into government purse unlike before. And local government needs money to work and pay workers salaries. We expect the councils to collect levies in line with the harmonised Edo Local Government revenue laws.”
Hon Shaibu however, asked the leadership of the traders association and that of the Oredo Local Government Council have a meeting with him next week Monday.
The protesters who carried placards with different inscriptions,’WE ARE ANGRY ABOUT THE INCREASE IN LEVY BY OREDO, ‘Don’t impose levies on us’ ,’from #3,000,#5,000 to #30,000 ,#50,000, we say no and “We no go pay complained that it was unreasonable and unfair for Oredo Local Government Council to come up with such plans to increase their levy from N3,000 and N5,000 to between N30,000,#50,000 and N100,000 annually at a time the commoners are still battling with the heat generated by economic recession.
The spokesman for the group, Mr Sunday Ogbonnaya, said that they were paying the sum of N3,000, N4,000 and N5,000 annually before now,that only for the Oredo revenue official to serve them with papers informing them of the increase.
According to him, “Officials of Oredo Council recently served us with a demand notice that henceforth we shall be paying annual levies ranging from N30,000,N50,000, N100,000 as against N3,000, N4,000 and N5,000 respectively.
“We are appealing to you to make use of your good offices to prevail on the local government to as a matter of urgency withdraw the outrageous levies given to us.
“We are law abiding citizens, as we always cooperate with the government in terms of paying our taxes regularly”.He said.
