By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
The chairman of Itu Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom Mr Etetim Onuk has ordered security agents to arrest anyone seen collecting levies from traders in markets in the area.
This is after traders from the popular Etaha Itam market took their protest against exorbitant and unauthorized levies by revenue agents and touts to Government House Uyo.
In a statement in Uyo yesterday, Onuk said that the Council has not authorized anyone to collect income levies on its behalf after it banned the payment of levies to cushion the global economic strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Also in compliance with the tax holiday magnanimously granted traders by the Akwa Ibom State Governor; Deacon Udom Gabriel Emmanuel, the Council had placed a ban on levies and taxation.
“The Council frowns at the allegations as it has not authorized such levies. The prohibition of all kind of levies is still in force and as such taxation should not be collected until the subsisting ban on taxation is lifted.
“The Council also warns that law enforcement agents have been placed on high alert to arrest and prosecute offenders and advises everyone to report suspected touts, cases of molestation and extortion to the market management committees, the Local Government Council or law enforcement agents.” It said.
It would be recalled that traders, mostly market women and underaged children from the market on Tuesday protested over heavy and multiple levies on them by revenue collectors in the Market.
The leader of the group, Esther Ekot lamented that after paying for a space at the road side between the sum of N15000 to N45000 depending on the size they were still compelled to pay daily ticket of N2,400.
Ekott explained that each trader on Tuesday was forced to pay N3000 development fee as against N2000 they normally pay even without any sight of development in the market.
She said the high taxations and daily tickets had made mockery of tax holiday given to them by governor Udom Emmanuel to cushion the harsh economic effects of the Covid 19 pandemic urging government authorities to come to their aid.
