By; BALA B. BITRUS, Minna.
Automobile machanics, spare parts dealers and other artisans in Minna, Niger state, Thursday embarked on two day warning strike over imposition of new regime of taxes by the state government.
The government in a new drive to raise internally generated revenue, had introduced a tax of N30, 000 as levy per each mechanic workshop in parts of the state.
Similarly, traders at the Minna Central Market, (the Abdulkadir Kure Ultra modern market) have also cried out over what they termed multiple taxation, selling of market stalls, lockup shops and spaces to foreigners from some West African countries based on religion against Nigerians.
The allegations of multiple taxation, allocation of shops, spaces to foreigners, arbitrary increase in shop rates in the markets amongst other complaints, is coming on the heels of the recent demolition of shops on the fringes of the Tunga market and those along major roads within the metropolis by the state government.
All automobile workshops and related work places within Minna, Niger state, capital including those at Machanic village at Keteren Gwari, Bosso road, Eastern and Western by-pass had their workshops closed and deserted as the artisans responded to the call by their union to stay at home by Thursday to press home their grouse against government’s new revenue drive.
Our correspondent gathered that the state government had increased almost by 200% the cost of lockup shops at the Minna central markets just as new regime of levies and taxes came into effect.
Beside this, the Chanchaga Municipal council has also in it’s drive for more revenue generation, maximized every available space within the Minna central market and sold them to the highest bidders, majority of whom are citizens of some neighbouring West African countries who are doing business in the state.
One of the affected artisans at the automobile mechanics garage along the Abayi Close, along Emir’s Palace, told our correspondent that he was asked to pay N60, 000 annually as ground rent for his workshop. “For every six months, we are to pay N30, 000 per workshop to the state government” he said.
Traders at the central market decried the multiple taxation, arbitrary increase in shop rent and the overstretching and congestion of the spaces at the market.
The traders accused the authorities of being overdriven by revenue generation maximisation zeal without being considerate of the recession in the country, comfort and well-being of the people doing business in the market.
“Every available space at the market and unoccupied lockup shops in the market have been sold out to wealthy traders, most of whom are from Niger or Chad Republics who are doing business in Nigeria. 80 percent of owners of the new shops especially at the new wing of the market are from either Niger or Chad republics”, said one of the traders in the market.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Jibrin Ndace, when contacted, promised to get details on the strike action by automobile Machanics and their allies, the spareparts dealers but he didn’t get back to us as he promised.
Ndace had pleaded for time saying “I am trying to get a clear picture of what is happening, I have heard what you said but I cannot respond without hearing from those directly involved, I am trying to get details of what is happening before I can talk to you”.
