Fuel Marketers Shut Down Stations In Ebonyi Over Taxes, Fines

Members of the Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State branch yesterday shut down all their stations in the state following what they described as high taxation and fines imposed on them by the State Board of Internal Revenue office (IGR).

Residents of the state capital were yesterday morning taken aback by the shut down as motorists and commuters observed a hike in the transport fare within and outside the state capital.

LEADERSHIP observed that commercial motorcyclist, tricycle operators and commercial buses plying within and outside the state capital increased their services by 100%.

The shutdown which created panic and apprehension according to the state chairman of the association, Mr Silas Njaka was necessitated by a suit filed against some members of the union by the Board.

Njaka said that trouble started when the leadership of the Board of Internal Revenue wrote the association requesting its members to commence the payment of Pay As You Earn Income Tax which was resisted while others complied.

The union chairman expressed regret that while other states in the South East gave waiver for the payment of the income tax for its members, the Ebonyi State government imposed the tax on them despite several opposition.

He said: “Our members in Enugu, Abia, Imo and Anambra states do not pay the Pay as you Earn Income Tax, so why must Ebonyi case be different. Moreso, we don’t have permanent staff, someone you employ today may decide to resign tomorrow, yet they expect us to file their names annually to the board.

“It is also not constitutional to pay the tax for those earning below N30,000 and most of the workers in our payroll earn less than N30, 000. Just recently, the Board fined our members N500,000 for non-compliance to the payment and thereafter dragged us to the State High Court in Abakaliki.’’

He noted that members of the union in solidarity shut down all the stations in the state to enable them appear in court to witness the court proceedings.

“The matter came up today for hearing and was adjourned till next week Monday. We have resolved to shut down the stations across the state any day we are appearing in court for the matter.

“Our taskforce team from Enugu will also be in the state every appearance date to ensure that all the stations in the State remain shut pending the determination of the matter.