The Niger chapter of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), on Friday embarked on a two-day warning strike in protest against alleged multiple taxation on its members, by the state government.
According to its Chairman, Mr Ayuba A-Oluobor, the taxes imposed on the technicians “have become simply unbearable”.
He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Minna, that the levies were “so many and heavy”, making it impossible for members to break even.
“We pay for business premises, development levy, Local Government levy, sanitation levy and now registration and certification levy,” he fumed.
He explained that the association was not against the payment of taxes, but that members were paying more than the money accruing to them from their trade.
The association’s chairman said that the levy in contention – registration and certification of business, was recently imposed on the association by the Vehicle Inspection Office of the Ministry of Works.
He said that government did not notify the association of the levy that was being collected through a consultant, who had employed the services of security agencies.
“Details of the new levy indicated that tyres sellers will pay N50,000, automobile spare parts sellers, N30,000, while automobile technicians will cough out N20,000 per annum.
“This new tax is in addition to the four levies we currently pay,” he said.
He said that the tax collectors had been very harsh as they lock up shops of those yet to pay.
“Very often, they seize the property of people still owing. If this action continues, there may be a breach of peace.
“This is why we are calling on government to intervene, halt the collection and dialogue with the association,’’ he said.
He said that the two-day warning strike, which commenced on Thursday, would continue if government failed to meet the group as promised.
“Right now, the warning strike is restricted to Minna, but if government refuses to meet with us, we will embark on an indefinite strike across the state,’’ he said.
The Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Mohammed Cheche and the Permanent Secretary, Alhaji Muazu Bawa could not be reached for comments, but a top ministry source confirmed that the technicians had indeed lodged a complaint to the office. (NAN)