The National Union of Road Transport Workers(NURTW) has advocated for a harmonised levy for states, local government, communities and concerned security agencies for smooth operations of its members.
The Deputy General Secretary in charge of heavy duty trucks and mass transit, Abuja, Abdulkaldree Musa made the request at the inauguration of new executives for heavy duty truck Unit, Indorama-Notore, mega Terminal Industrial branches of the Union(NURTW), at Ejamah-Ebubu, in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Musa, who represented the union’s National President, Ibikunle Baruwa, noted that multiple taxation, indiscriminate mounting of road blocks and incessant harassments of their members are having negative effects on service delivery, life and property, and the economy.
He suggested a harmonised single tax regime drivers that would later be shared by the state, LGA and Security agencies, adding that this would facilitate movement of passengers and goods on the roads.
“As an organisation, we’re always against multiple taxation, this is the reason we’re suggesting to both state and local governments to find a way that drivers will have a single payment, that will later be shared among all the organs of government that supposed to be involved in the fee, to avoid incessant embarrassments our members encounter on various routes on daily basis.
“The issue of multiple taxation is not only ruining the economy, but also creating serious challenges to the drivers, elongating a journey of four hours to 12 or more hours, because of multiple road blocks on the roads, which create fatigue to drivers and possible human errors that can lead to loss of life and goods,”Musa said.
