Ebonyi State Residents Hit by Hike in Transport Fare Due to Petrol Stations' Shutdown!

The Petrol Dealers Association of Nigeria, Ebonyi State branch, closed all of their petrol stations due to high taxation and fines imposed by the State Board of Internal Revenue office.

The shutdown caused an increase in transportation fares within and outside the state capital. Commercial motorcyclists, tricycle operators, and commercial buses raised their fares by 100% in response to the petrol stations' closure.

The association's chairman, Mr Silas Njaka, explained that trouble started when the Board requested members to begin paying Pay As You Earn Income Tax, which was resisted. He expressed regret that the state government imposed the tax despite opposition, while other South-Eastern states granted waivers to their members. The Board fined members who did not comply with the payment, and some were dragged to court, leading to the shutdown.

Njaka added that the tax was unconstitutional for those earning below N30,000, and most workers in their payroll earned less.

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