Tony Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, may review the contentious annual tax for tricycle Keke) operators in the state.
Each tricycle operator in the state was levied N15,000 per month as operational tax, which was estimated at N7.2bn annually should all the operators pay.
The development had triggered two-day protest in the state by the Keke drivers and the shuttle bus operators who described the tax as huge in the prevailing economic circumstances
But at the weekend, officials of the Anambra State Government met with the protesters and gave them assurances that government would take a second look at the development.
Led by the state’s deputy Governor, Dr Onyeka Ibezim, who addressed the protesters at Ekwueme square, Awka, at the weekend, the officials noted that the state government was making frantic efforts to resolve the revenue issue.
“We call on the unions to conduct themselves in an orderly manner so that their views will be heard to enable government take decisions that will benefit all, as the state government places the priority of all its citizens in due considerations,” Ibezim said.
Also, the Special Adviser to Governor Chukwuma Soludo on Security, Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi (Rtd) explained that the meeting was a democratic approach in having a direct link with tricycle riders in settling the revenue issue.
He said, “The resistance was probably from misunderstanding or intentional misinformation from the leadership as the agreement was made initially with proper consultations with the unions.
“The meeting has provided us the ample opportunity to have direct contact with the riders and drivers and we promise that more meetings will be held to resolve the issue.”
Some Keke riders who spoke during the meeting, including, Anthony Ejike and Ifeanyi Okoye, said the N15,000 monthly tax by tricycle riders was quite huge to be paid once and suggested a reduction and a convenient instalment payments.