Protests rock Idemmili over new levies by government , petition Obiano

www.odogwublog.com reports that angry store owners in Awada, Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State yesterday protested over an alleged introduction of new levies and hiking of former levies by both Local and State Government Authorities.

The store owners numbering over a 100 persons under the name of LIVE & LET LIVE STORES USERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA were carrying placards with different inscriptions, expressing their dissatisfaction and frustration over what they termed extortion by intimidation.

The different levies they were tasked to pay included, Store Levy, Business Premises, Small Scale Industries, Business Permit, Shop Levy, Artisan Levy, Fire Extinguisher, Eating Permit, Liquor License, Obosi Development Royal Levy and Minor industries.

The president of the association, Mr. Kenechukwu Duru said that all efforts they made to see the Chairman of the local government who was on seat when they stormed the LG council headquarters, Ogidi proved abortive but after a while when they insisted of not vacating the local government’s premises, the Chairman sent his secretary to talk with them.

His words: “We presented the different kinds of receipts, letters and demand notice we have received to him but he merely told us that he was  only interested in the store levy.
Duru said that the union demanded that the Local Government authority should stipulate the authentic levies that store owners or users should pay, adding that, the amount stipulated in such levies should be slashed to enable the poor masses comply without grudges.
He also said that if possible the payment should be unified to make it more difficult for fraudsters who go about in the name of contract agents intimidating and extorting unsuspecting and innocent store users.

One of the Protesting store owners, Mrs. Chinyere Onuorah, the owner of CUZ B Computers lamented that things are very hard in the country and that they could no longer bear the burden of spending all their earnings on the litany of levies demanded by different groups of persons who claim to be working for government.

Mrs. Onuorah said that the union has already filed a suit to the state High Court Ogidi demanding that all levies be reduced to the maximum of N1200 excepting ANSEPA and security levy.
Another shop owner Mrs. Omoba Adebayo, a tailor, said that most levies have been doubled referring to what they paid last year.
“We paid N1000 last year for fire extinguisher. We are yet to receive it and they came and demanded us to pay almost double of the same amount. If you refuse to pay they will use Obosi boys to intimidate and cart away goods from your shops.
“ I pray that the Governor, Chief Willie Obiano should look into this matter and save us from this touts” Adebayo said.