The African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Enugu State has accused Governor Peter Mbah’s administration of imposing what it described as an aggressive revenue regime on businesses in the old Nsukka zone.
The party specifically alleged that haulage trucks loading or offloading goods at Obollo-Afor Market in Udenu Local Government Area are being charged a N25,000 levy by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service, ESIRS.
The old Nsukka zone comprises the six local government areas of Enugu North Senatorial District — Igbo-Etiti, Igbo-Eze North, Igbo-Eze South, Nsukka, Udenu and Uzo-Uwani.
In a statement on Saturday by its media team, the ADC linked the revenue collection to what it described as the marginalisation of Enugu North Senatorial District under the Mbah administration.
The party claimed that the levy was increasing transportation costs and contributing to higher prices of goods in Nsukka.
“Of particular concern to us in Enugu ADC is the exorbitant taxation imposed on haulage trucks loading and offloading goods in markets in Nsukka zone.
“For instance, any truck that drops or picks up goods at Obollo-Afor market in Udenu pays N25,000 levy. This levy results in extra cost of transportation of goods, higher prices of goods and more hardship for the masses in Nsukka,” the statement said.
The ADC alleged that the levy was not imposed on trucks operating in Enugu urban and parts of Enugu West Senatorial District.
It claimed that traders protested when the levy was introduced at Obollo-Afor Market but that the government did not withdraw it.
The party further alleged that some truck drivers had started diverting goods meant for Nsukka to other locations because of the levies and taxes imposed by state revenue officials.
According to the ADC, traders who travel to other locations to retrieve their goods subsequently transfer the additional costs to consumers.
“The tax policy of the government is destroying commercial activities in Nsukka. The remaining businesses that survived the demolition spree of the Mbah administration are now suffocating under his tax regime.
“If trucks can deliver goods in other parts of Enugu without being subjected to N25,000 haulage levy, why can they not do same in Nsukka? Is Nsukka no longer part of Enugu State?” the party queried.
The opposition party also alleged that the revenue regime was part of the marginalisation of the Nsukka zone.
ADC accuses Mbah govt of imposing N25,000 levy on Nsukka trucks