Multiple taxation continues in Anambra despite introduction of GPL...Ocha Brigade rakes in #2m daily - traders
By Chinwe Nwacha , Onitsha
Traders in Onitsha, under the aegis of Onitsha South Street Traders Association, Anambra State, have lamented the continued existence of multiple levies despite the introduction of General Purpose Levy, GPL, by the State Government through the Anambra State Internally Revenue Service, AIRS, to unify all forms of levies into one source of payment.
They accused Ocha Brigade that is in charge of Clean and Healthy Anambra State, in Onitsha metropolis, of raking in on daily basis about #2 million through extortion from residents.
Lamenting the continued existence through their chairman, Chief Eric Uwaoma, they commended Governor Soludo for the introduction adding that it has assisted in no small measure towards curtailing the multiple levies being extorted from them.
They urged the state government to ensure entire sack of illegal revenue collectors in the area and by extension the state even as they lauded the AIRS Managing Director, Chief Greg Ezeilo, for sending lawyers to defend traders dragged to court by these illegal revenue collectors.
"We thank the AIRS MD, Ezeilo for his prompt intervention and introduction of one source of revenue payment. Ezeilo told us that the introduction of the GPL takes immediate effect this 2024 and urged us to arrest and hand over to the police anybody that demands from us any manners of levy.
"In Onitsha South the illegal levy collectors still operate and even with thugs, touts and security operatives and most of them claim to come from Onitsha South Local Government Area.
"Again, operators of Ocha Brigade worsen the situation with their extortion attitude. We pray for overhaul of personnel in Onitsha because residents now live at the mercy of this group who openly extort and tell their victims to do their worst, claiming that they have their authority from their MD, Chief Celestine Anene.
"They extort in the name of enforcing sanitation, between #10,000 for a plastic bucket, to #30,000 and #50,000 as the case maybe there by raking in about #2 million daily, not minding the governor's directive that poor traders that do business with #100,000 or less should not be levied. The funny thing is that the MD of Ocha Brigade may not know the atrocities his men are committee and the money they rake in through force.
"I am sure he is not aware of these atrocities being perpetrated by his men in Onitsha. Our office has been inundated with petitions against illegal activities of Ocha Brigade in Onitsha and funny thing is that most wares confiscated disappeared on demand by their owners
"Yes, somethings when owners of confiscated goods come for them the wares will either be missing or less in number and their excuse will be that they have been transferred to Awka headquarters because one did not come on time for money demanded," is it not stealing in the highest order," he querried.