By Chukwuka Ugokwe :
The Tricycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria, Awka Zone, has appealed to Anambra Internal Revenue Service to resolve discrepancies as well as inefficiency of a revenue collection device, TRANSPAY, newly introduced by the Service, to enable transport workers in the state to pay taxes as they work.
This is coming when the members of the Association gathered at Awka South Local Government Secretariat, Amawbia, for their monthly meeting.
While reacting to a series of complaints made by the Keke riders which included extortion, discrepancies and inefficiency of AIRS’ TRANSPAY device, among others, the Chairman of the Association, Prince Collins Ozojiofor, expressed displeasure over the developments, saying the Association would not fold its arms and watch anybody intimidate its members in any form.

He said, ‘Though the Executive Chairman, AIRS, Dr Greg Ezeilo, means well for Keke people but the issue with the TRANSPAY inspector is not our business.
‘If they (AIRS) are fighting, Keke riders should not be the ones to suffer it.
‘The reason for the TRANSPAY as they told us, is to enable us to pay as we work. So, I was thinking that it would reduce the amount we pay, but now the reverse is the case.
‘So, from now till 15th of next month if they do not resolve that issue, and every other thing happening on the main road, we will stop paying tax and also attract the attention of Governor Chukwuma Soludo,’
Prince Ozojiofor stressed, lamenting, ‘TRANSPAY was made to save us, but not to kill us.’
Condemning double taxation in its entirety, Ozojiofor lamented.
‘We will not be paying double tax; the officials of the AIRS will give us a reasonable answer to that effect”
While appealing for calm, Ozojiofor advised the Keke riders to always show spirit of brotherhood among themselves, remain law-abiding and continue to support the Soludo administration.
He however praised Governor Soludo for his Agunachemba security outfit, expressing optimism that the security outfit would bring about lasting peace in the state.
In an interview with newsmen, the Vice Chairman of the Association, Mr Alexander Nwafor, said the meeting offered the Keke riders an opportunity to iron out the common challenges facing them.
The meeting, which also aimed at reorienting the keke riders on the need to stay clear of crimes, had in attendance, the Executive Chairman, Awka South LGA, Prince Chinedu Okafor, represented by the Local Government Secretary, Sir Peter Uyanwune;
Others included, the Senior Special Assistants to Governor Soludo on Security, Prince JohnChris Chigbo and Hon Kingsley Ezika; the Anambra State Chairman and the Secretary of the Association, Comrade Innocent Obaga and Elvis Okolie respectively; AIRS and TRANSPAY officials, Sylvester Uzoh and Timothy Arira respectively, among other dignitaries.
Responding, the AIRS Official, Mr Uzoh and his TRANSPAY counterpart, Mr Arira, admitted the complaints the Keke riders made, and assured that the issues would be resolved by the agencies as soon as possible.
In their separate remarks, the State Chairman and the Secretary of the Association, Obaga and Okolie respectively, advised Keke riders to always be security conscious and maintain a proper sense of decorum, especially while on duty to give Keke riding business dignity of labour.