The Lagos State Government has imposed an N800 daily harmonised dues on commercial vehicles operating in the state.
According to a state government statement, the ‘Consolidated Informal Transport Sector Levy’ agreement was signed by state officials and transport stakeholders on Tuesday.
Present at the signing were representatives of the state, local government, and various unions in the transport sector.
State Commissioner for Finance, Rabiu Olowo, signed the statement.
Olowo said that the N800 daily levy covers the local government levy and the fee for waste clearing at motor parks, which is paid to the ministry of transportation, Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The commissioner noted that the harmonised levy will reduce multiple taxes and levies, eradicate harassment of bus drivers and provide reliable data.
He added that the collection of the levy will commence on February 1, 2022.
“The N800 is a single structured collection of the monies payable to all government agencies and parties who are directly or indirectly associated with the transport sector.
“What the government has done is to organise the collection and reduce the multiplicity of levies and all sorts of taxes, dues and monies due to government from the transport unions.
“Bus drivers will get tax cards, and the issue of arbitrary payments will be eradicated once they pay from the point of their loading each day,” the statement further read.
Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers Union (NURTW) in Lagos, Musiliu Akinsanya aka MC Oluomo explained that the N800 levy will not stop the union from collecting its “normal statutory levy”.
“The harmonised levy will not affect the national union ticket. What it is aimed at consolidating are all the levies collected by the government and it was the unions that approached the government to help us harmonise the payment of all the levies it has been collecting to prevent duplication of levies,” he said.
Meanwhile, the announcement has been generating reactions on social media, with many expressing fears that it could cause transport fares to skyrocket.
Taking to Facebook, Akangbe Yasar Fisayo wrote, “Absolute rubbish. So despite paying this 800 daily, they will still be collecting owo loading, owo (money for) this, owo (money for) that.
Samuel Adekola Adesokan wrote, “And this will end up affecting lagosians going about their daily activities. When conductors tell you 200 for a distance of 50-100 naira. Milking Lagosians daily. Nonsense.”
Bolohunduro Anugbenro Samson wrote, “Same thing will be added to Nigeria burden if mistake in Lagos is replicated in Abuja.”
Nwadialo Pascal Azụka stated, “They had better sell all of us in the country. At least that way we know we’re back to slavery.”
Twitter users also had their say:
Lagos Drivers will pay Tinubu and still pay MC oluomo’s NURTW.
How much is left at the end of the day?
This is aside from repairs and even Police checkpoints.
— Ibukun Tayo Daniel (@ibukun_tayo) January 19, 2022
Sure seems like this N800 daily levy on bus drivers is someone trying to raise extra campaign funds.
— -GOD ENGINE- (@xavierighorodje) January 19, 2022
So the daily N800 does not affect the ticket from NURTW, means in a day a commercial driver may psy morw than 2000. Its well with our soul im lagos. E be like na to buy car sure pass now, cos las las na passengers go use head carry the charges. MC Oluomo big cashout.
— Man of ocean 🛳️🛥️⛴️ (@Edukatedmekanik) January 19, 2022
It will be far better if the drivers pay N1000 or N1500 daily fee rather than the agreed N800 that still gives room for exploitation by so called Agbero.
What this does is that, N800 goes to the govt and the balance either 200 or 700 goes straight to the union. MC Oluomo and co..
— Abey (@Abiodunstylux) January 19, 2022
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