Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has banned all illegal collection of daily revenue by transport unions in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state with immediate effect.
The Governor also directed Security agencies to enforce strict compliance, saying his administration will not tolerate any disruptions to public order in the implementation of this directive.
The Governor who gave this directive on Wednesday at the Revenue House, in an enlarged meeting with the transport union officials, security agencies, staff of Kogi internal Revenue service and other stakeholders, said while Government respect the constitutional rights of individuals to freedom of association, however emphasize that union dues must be fair, agreed upon by members, and collected monthly, bi-annually, or annually as specified in their by-laws and not daily.
The governor who was represented by the state Commissioner of Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, added that as a responsible government, it cannot allow this trend to continue unchecked.
Speaking further, he said “It has been one year since this administration took office, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to positively impact the lives of our people. From improving livelihoods to creating an enabling environment for businesses, our focus has been to lay a foundation for sustainable growth and development in Kogi State.
“As a government, we will continue to support individuals, groups, and associations in ways that empower them to contribute meaningfully to our shared progress.
“However, we will not hesitate to act decisively where personal or group interests conflict with the collective good of our people.
“In 2017, the Kogi State Revenue Harmonization Law introduced the Infrastructure Maintenance Levy (IML), a small daily contribution by commercial vehicles plying our roads.
“This levy was established to maintain and improve the state’s infrastructure, which is vital for economic growth. Unfortunately, the implementation of this law has been undermined by some union leaders who prioritize personal gain over the interests of their members and the state.
“Instead of remitting these funds as stipulated, they have resorted to collecting illegal membership dues, depriving both their members and the government the much needed revenue for the development of Infrastructure and provide welfare services to the people.
He added that following consultations with relevant stakeholders, including the Unions, the government have established the following rates for the Infrastructure Maintenance Levy across the state, ranging from between from N500 to N700 per day for Tricycles Motorbike, buses and taxi, depending on their areas of operations within the state
He not that the above rate was arrived at in order to give a measure of relief to the Motorists and the Operators from the burden of multiple payments, while the interest of the relevant Unions is also considered.
“The Honourable Commissioner of Transportation and the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Internal Revenue Service are hereby directed to ensure the immediate and seamless implementation of this policy.
“We count on the cooperation of all stakeholders to ensure the success of this initiative, which is aimed at enhancing our infrastructure and improving the standard of living for all residents of Kogi State. Together,
The deputy Director, Department of State Security Service, (DSS), Peter Fashola who spoke on behalf of the security agencies in the state, promised to collaborate with the government to ensure compliance,
The representatives of the transport unions, Yahaya Ibrahim NURTW and Ovoro Abdullahi Ovurevu, Tricycle operators in their separate response promised to educate their members on the new development.