Traders Cried out for Illegal Taxes on Businesses in Benue Markets
Traders trading
Eric Adah
The activities of tax collectors in wurukum market are generating mixed reactions by subscribers to goods and services in the area. Mrs. Torkwase Avalumun who sales vegetables, Pepper and Okro beside the Swange Cinema said everyday different groups of young men come to collect money from them as taxes, aside from the local government tax collectors, without issuing receipts. She said these taxes are not static but negotiable with the charged from ₦100 and above per basket/basin of whatever one is selling or may have bought in the market. Avalumun further said these groups are merciless when they come to unleash their terror on the market men and women; “even when you plead that you are yet to make sells, they take your goods away.” She lamented that the situation is really becoming unbearable as many have preferred to jettison their businesses because of these market urchins.
Mrs. Juliana Oloja sales fresh corn in sacks at the Wurukum Market, she said everyday these groups of young men who claimed to be members of some unidentified “tax force” collect ₦100 per sack from her “without giving me receipts after which I pay another ₦50 per sack to the Local Government tax team. She said the groups are so hostile to traders and they are not afraid of the relevant authority of the market.
Another trader, Mrs. Kpadoo Tyover who transits from Ikpayongu to sale the popular “Akpu,” expressed displeasure the extortion by these groups. She complained that after spending much to transport goods to the market, one is faced with the issue of multiple taxations. She called on the government of Governor Ortom to help the low income earners who sometimes go in sleepless nights to feed their families.
On his part, the Makurdi Local Government Revenue Coordinator Wurukum Market, Isaac Sokpo decry the huge revenue lost, as a result of the activities of these “imposters.” He said the illegal activities of these “tax force agents” make it cumbersome for his men to collect the legal revenue approved by government. This way, it is difficult to control the situation even in terms of coordinated revenue collection and development of the market.
One of the Tax Agents who preferred not to be named said, they are PDP youth that worked for the party’s victory in 2019 General Election, and that they are directed to go to the markets and device means of making money. He was emphatic that “the government is aware and no security personnel will arrest us.”
The Chairman, Wurukum Market Traders, Comrade Terngu Ibrahim Adura also confirmed the illegal activities of the self acclaimed tax force agents in the market and environs. He said some of the tax forces had the duty to checkmate illegal motor parks and wrong parking by the main road, but that the aim is defeated, as they have deviated to collecting money from traders and allocating spaces in wrong places. This he said has resulted to a compacted market, bridging the legal structures hitherto arranged. Adura said his office has reported the illegal activities of these “handlooms” to Makurdi Local Government Authority, but nothing is done so far. However, he said all hope is not lost as he is in contact with the new council chairman to help in sanitizing the market.
The activities of market urchins are a national problem in Nigeria. While some state governments have tried to stem it, others are far from advancing solutions. For instance, recently, the government of Cross River State under Ben Ayade constituted a Special Task Force to make sure the revenue sector is sanitized. One of the objectives of the committee is to make sure small business owners in the category of Wurukum traders are exempted 100% from taxes. This policy is applauded by economic and financial experts; that it will not only cut excesses, but will also; help the micro traders (some of who have a turnover of less than 5000) get value for their efforts.
