By Samuel Ogenyi, Uyo
Traders in major markets in Akwa Ibom have raised alarm over the imposition of multiple ticketing by the Local Governments and traders’ unions in the markets.
This is against the State Government’s directive on tax holidays for all categories of taxpayers including traders in the State, to cushion the adverse effect of the Coronavirus on people and businesses.
Speaking to newsmen at the popular Akpan Andem Market in Uyo metropolis yesterday, a trader Mrs Ekong Okon explained that, despite efforts by the State Government to reduce economic hardship on them, some agents allegedly set up by market unions has continued to tax them.
According to her, ‘‘here in Akpan Andem Market every shop is made to pay N500 for electricity, N700 for Uyo Local Government, N500 for security and N1000 as development levy amongst others.”
Despite the collection of these levies for the aforementioned items, traders still experienced dilapidated shops, blackout and absence of development against monies collected by the revenue agents.
Also, at Itam Market in Uyo, traders lamented the influence of splinter market unions saying that, the multiplicity of these unions contributed heavily to the high cost of food items.
Worst hit are traders without market stalls who display their wares in the open and along roads near the markets as they are most times forced to part with monies not receipted for by some of the revenue collection agents.
In one of such incidents last year, a pregnant woman died of injuries sustained while being forced to pay levy on a jerrycan of Palm oil she was bringing to Akpanandem market to sell by a revenue collection agent.
Traders in other markets also visited such as; Afaha Market, Ikot Ambang Market, Urua Tor, Use Market, Etuk Street Market and Ikpe Market etc, complained of excessive levy and called on the State Government to intervene for them to feel the impact of the tax relief it granted.
