The leadership of Highway, 8-miles Bus Drivers Welfare Association, Calabar, Cross River, has slashed transport fares of the big buses in Calabar metropolis from N100 to N70 a drop.
The association said the decision was taken after due consideration, with a view to complimenting the state government’s gesture of exempting low income earners in the state from paying tax.
Gov. Ben Ayade on May 21, exempted all low income earners in the state from paying tax, as well as tricycle operators, bus and taxi drivers from buying daily ticket of about N400.
The General Secretary of the association, Mr Togun Oluwaseun, said on Thursday in Calabar that the fare reduction was to further compliment government’s efforts in cushioning the effect of the economic hardship on the people.
Oluwaseun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the reduction was also part of the association’s Cooperate Social Responsibility to its business community.
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He commended Ayade for the gesture and for also setting up an anti-tax agency to ensure full enforcement of the tax exemption policy on low income earners and bus drivers.
“As a form of appreciation, we believe that we should also give back to the society. We had to reduce the transport fare from N100 to N70 a drop from 8miles to Watt Market and other axis.
“Since the announcement of tax exemption, we have not bought any ticket from any agent.
“As an association, we believe that it should not be the government alone that should give out, the people must learn to make small sacrifices too,” he said.
He urged commuters in Calabar to always patronise the big buses stationed at the Etim-Edem Motor Park.
He said that anyone who forgot anything in the buses would definitely get it back, adding that the buses were all registered.