By Ikhili Ebalu, Benin City.
Traders Welfare Union of Nigeria, Edo State branch, Benin City, have applaud the Edo State government, for listening to their cry for abolition of multiple taxation being melted out to them by Revenue Collectors in the state.
The Union in a Solidarity protest in Benin City , thanked the governor, Godwin Obaseki , the Secretary to government, Osarodion Ogie, for carrying out their promise to look into the multiple taxation being carried out by some State Revenue Collectors on Goat Meat Sellers in the State.
Recall that, Goat Meat Sellers In Edo state,had last week in a peaceful protest around Benin City, send Save our Soul , (SOS), to the governor, to come to their rescue, as the multiple taxation was causing untold hardship to their businesses.
The President, Traders Welfare, Edo State, Comrade Lucky Orukpe, who led the protesters , said, “we have cause to come out today and thank the governor, Godwin Obaseki, the Secretary to government, Barrister Osarodion Ogie for listening to our cry.
” We have been in pain over multiple taxation being melted out to us by the revenue collectors.”
When we protested last week, the SSG promised to look into the issue we raised, I tell you today , the government have sliced the tax to a minimum of #150, instead of #700.
” We deemed it right to thank the government for listening to our request.
According to Comrade Orukpe, “Initially, the goat meat seller pay N50 for Ladder and the revenue collectors increased it to N100, the Local Government Council revenue collectors collect N100, while the veterinary doctor collect N500 on each goat. Altogether, in every single goat purchased and killed, the Goat Meat Seller pay the total sum of N700.”
” Now the government has instructed that for every goat, it has to be #100 for ladder and#50 for veterinary doctor, totally #150 instead of the former #700.
Comrade Lucky Orukpe, use the opportunity to appeal to Edo State government to introduce Point of Sale (POS) so that the tax they collect can henceforth go straight to the account of Edo state government,”
This according to him, we enable each trader have his or her own receipt for every transition carried out in the abboitor.
According to him, “we also need abboitor for Goat Butchers in every local government Area of the state.
“We thank you for being a listen governor.” He concluded.