By Ben Owen
Following the incessant and multiple taxation and illegal collection of money by some illegal tax force in Oyigbo and Etche local Government Areas in Rivers State, the Chairman of National Union of Road transport workers (NURTW) South, South / South East heavy duty section, Comr. Alh Mohammed Umar Giwa stated this, while speaking with the press after he ordered the opening of the road that was blocked by his members as a results of the activities of illegal tax force, from the two Local Government Areas especially Etche L.G.A also said that the illegal collections of money by force from his members by some touts in the name of Rivers State Government is giving hem sleepless night.
He appealed to the State Government under the leadership of Gov. Fubara to stop the illegal collections of money and the multiple taxation that arises from the menace saying that it is unlawful to pay tax to the faceless people on the highways, calling on the State Government to ensure that the right people and the right tickets are used for revenue generation in the State.
According to him, failure for his members to pay the money to the illegal tax force, always leads to the beating of the drivers, damaging their trucks and as well as killings of their members in some cases.
Comr. Giwa, the Chairman (NURTW) heavy duty South, South/ South East further appealed to the State Government to urgently intervene into the matter and save the lives of their members. He maintained that (NURTW) Heavy Duty Truck members are apolitical, saying nobody sponsored them, but they were only doing it to save the lives of their members and their business.***
