18 trade unions operating within Computer village Lagos have come together to protest against illegal levies imposed on them by the Iyaloja General, Folashade Iyabo-Ojo.
According to a report by Punch, the traders started their protest on Monday, by shutting down Computer village until the issues are resolved.
The traders allege that madam Tinubu-Ojo imposed an iyaloja and babaloja on them in June of 2019 who in turn imposed new levies, after having displaced the existing leadership of the computer village market.
See Also: Court Declines the Forfeiture of Bukola Saraki’s House to EFCC
According to Nonso Bethel, a spokesperson for the coalition of trade unions in the market, hoodlums working for the imposed leaders started to charge outrageous sums of money as levies.
For instance, as a stall owner, if you take delivery of goods from the airport and you are bringing them into the market, the touts will collect N500 from the porter carrying them for you. If the goods are in your car, you will pay N2,000. But if you used a truck, they will collect N5,000,” he said.
He said the new levies were endured by the traders until they were asked to pay N50 everyday. When this was rejected, their new masters asked them to pay N1,000 every month instead.
“Outside of this, we pay income tax, corporate tax, VAT and local government permits. So, we don’t know the constitutional authority that the Iyaloja has to be collecting N12,000 every year from shop owners. Those who sell by the roadside, they charge them between N1,000 and N1,500 on a daily basis,” he said further.
Leave a Reply