A’Ibom Keke operators elect new exco -as govt bans illegal levies By Victoria HANSON The Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Austin Mbeh has placed with immediate effect a ban on any act or form of revenue collection from operators of the tricycles in the state. He made the order at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), solidarity hall, Uyo, during the inauguration of the harmonized tricycle unit of the national Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). Mbeh said that any levy and tax collected from the keke operators in the 31 local governments of the state was illegal. The Commissioner, who described the newly inaugurated exco as a welcome development, stated that the body would act like a catalyst for the smooth running of the union in the state. He noted that since the state government has done much in the road network of the state by constructing good and durable roads for the people of the state, there was need for a proper coordination among the various unions in the road transport sector, so that both commercial tri-cyclists and other road users could benefit from governor Godswill Akpabio’s transformation drive. Stressing the need for all the unions to work under one platform for easy recognition by government and coordination for purposes that would benefit the keke operators, Mbeh seized the occasion to inform the tri-cyclists that the law on the registration of the all commercial tricycles in the state was not to deprive anyone right but to enhance easy identification. Mbeh who urged those who have not register theirs to do so in order to operate freely in the state without molestation by government agents, advised them to cooperate with the government and the union officials in order to ensure progress and peace in the union. Responding, the chairman of NLC, Comrade Unyime Usoro, commended the commissioner for the strides recorded in the transport ministry, saying that the state labour appreciated the effort of the Transport Ministry in seeking for a channel to gather all the unions in the transport sector in the state, in order for them speak in one voice. On his part, the newly elected chairman of the tricycle unit of the union, Comrade Uwem James expressed gratitude to God and members of the union for electing him to lead the body He said that he was particularly thankful to God that keke operators in the state have been liberated from several levies payable to various agents of government in the LGAs. He commended the commissioner for being responsive to their plights and promised that the union would work with the Transport ministry and would support governor Akpabio’s administration to succeed in the area of fighting crime in the transport sector. Vol. 1 no. 3
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 19:18:28 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015