The Edo State Government, under Governor Monday Okpebholo, has said it has not given authorization to any union to collect revenue from commercial drivers in the State.
This is as a result of some persons masquerading as revenue officers under the newly inaugurated leadership of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
There are series of complaints that some persons in the guise of unionists across the State have refused to heed to the directive given by the Edo State Government on the ban on revenue collection.
Some drivers had embarked on a peaceful protest on Friday to register their displeasure over the collection of revenue wherein bus drivers were forced to pay N1,000 while taxi drivers pay N500 – a situation which led to an increase in transport fare.
Governor Okpebholo who received the complaints immediately set up a committee to wade into the matter ensuring that it did not escalate into crisis as the state at this time needs peace and stability to enable the current administration fulfill its campaign promises to Edo people.
The committee set up by the governor is headed by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Musa Ikhilor.
Other members of the Committee set up to look into the issues of revenue collection include the Chief Security Officer to the Governor (CSO), President of NURTW, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Drivers on Wheels and others.
The State Coordinator, Edo State Public Response Safety Team (PRST) Kelly Okungbowa who is a member of the committee led other members on a sensitization tour to various motor parks in the Benin metropolis to relay government’s position on the development to stakeholders.
Okungbowa said the governor is not happy with the issue and had therefore directed that it must stop forthwith until government gives further directives on the matter.
“Some groups came out yesterday under the aegis of NURTW saying you people should pay revenue, collecting N1,000 from bus drivers and N500 from taxi drivers as revenue. This led to protests by drivers calling on the State governor to step in and rescue them from various unions.The governor immediately called for a meeting to look into the matter.
“The governor immediately set up a committee headed by the Secretary to the State Government, the Chief Security Officer to the Governor (CSO), President of NURTW, RTEAN, Drivers on Wheels and others. We all resolved that nobody should collect money from drivers as the directive is for us all to hold on on revenue collection”, he said.
Okungbowa added that Governor Okpebholo is a listening governor who does not like oppression, and said the governor has not given any group or union authority to collect revenues from drivers.
“The governor will announce the way forward as his administration is looking at the template of revenue collection and studying the way forward on the issue. Don’t be intimidated by anybody until the government makes a pronouncement on the new issue”, he stated.
A driver at the Sakponba axis of the State, Mr. Nnamdi Chidi commended the governor for stepping in and not allowing the matter degenerate into crisis before responding. He noted that his actions show that he loves Edo people particularly the drivers who are being intimidated, harassed and molested on a daily basis by union leaders.
Another driver, Uche Umeh thanked the governor for sending a clear message and clarifying the issues.
“We are happy that at least for now, we know we are not to pay anybody revenue until the government says so”.
Recall that the governor on assumption of office placed a ban on revenue collection to enable the state government put in place a more enduring template.
