- 150 Million Naria On Market Women*
*By David Uka, Abakaliki*
Ebonyi State Government has donated N150 million to the Market Women Association in the State to encourage them do their business.
Governor David Umahi, who announced the donation at Abakaliki Stadium during a Town Hall meeting with stakeholders on Internally Generated Revenue in the State, also abolished all daily tolls charged on hawkers and petty traders who have no shops in the markets.
The Governor also suspended Income Taxes payable by traders across the markets in the State as well as all forms of revenue charged by the Local Governments and Development Centres.
Umahi lamented that the much orchestrated taxes, levies and rates presumed to be charged by the State Government were not reflecting on the State’s Internally Generated Revenue and attributed their proliferation and inconsistencies to evil activities of fraudsters in the guise of government revenue collectors.
He emphasized that the measures have become necessary in order to ameliorate the unwarranted pressure, hardship and challenges imposed on the people by these illegal revenue collectors.
“And to the 13 local governments market women, we will donate N10 million to each of the local governments
“I am suspending all the contractors in charge of Internally Generated Revenue until I finish reviewing them. All the illegality of tax collection in the name of government must end and anyone who violates the law will be taken to prison.
“Enough is enough for people to be using my name illegally. I will never accept that because the cry of the poor reaches heaven on that note I must make the welfare of the people my primary priority.
“All revenue collection from women without shops and hawkers is also abolished and anyone trying to do that will be sentenced to 5 years imprisonment.
“All income tax and tenement rates are suspended till further notice.
“I am launching Operation Catch Them because Ebonyi State is blessed with mineral resources and this revenue we generate is very poor.
“Traditional rulers and Town Unions should provide all forms of mining activities going on in all the their area. The community leaders should think for the future of their children and stop selling off their birth right .
Umahi said “No children of age should be allowed to hawk during the school hours. If the Taskforce arrest them and you the parents come to bail your child you will be arrested also so take note. Education is very important for our children ”
Governor Umahi also promised to constitute a team through the Commissioner for Lands to moderate the high rates of houses in the State as he abolished all landlord fees and other taxation.
