The government of Enugu State, through its Board of Internal Revenue, has commenced sealing of shops to enforce the state’s annual revenue collection from shop owners.
THE WHISTLER saw many shops that were sealed with red tapes while the operators were given a specified timeframe to pay the allotted amount or have the defaulting shops locked up with the attendant fines.
“They began using red tapes to seal the shops yesterday,” says a shop owner at Aho Opi. “Most of us are billed N36,000 annually. It is the amount we paid last year. I guess it has not changed. Our problem is how to raise the money. I haven’t made such amount since two months now because of ‘bad’ market. I sew clothes, and, as you can see, my shop is empty. This is Easter, and nobody has come to sew clothes. Before, by now, you won’t find a space because of high patronage.”
Mrs Chika Odo runs a shop at Abakpa market. She said the hardship in land would adversely affect the rate of responses by shop owners.
“We were told to settle the bills before April 4th,” she narrates. “It is about one year ago that this revenue drive started. We protested, but the government insisted. This time around, we are ready to pay. But we want more time. Things are difficult, and we want the state government to understand with us. A situation where our request for extension isn’t accepted, we face the consequences. Last year, defaulters were fined; shops were locked, and they remained locked until they settled the bills and the penalties.”
For Monica Ezema, a foodstuffs seller at Ikpa Market, Nsukka, the state government should do more to encourage traders to pay the annual revenue willingly.
“We need to see what the government is doing for us,” according to her. “Last year, we paid this levy with difficulties. We are gradually getting used to it. That is why there are less agitation this year.
“But we are making special demands to the state government. We need the state to tar the road that passes through this market. We also need a fire service station. We need micro-credit schemes. During rainy seasons, we lose a lot to flooding. During dry seasons, we are at the mercy of dust. The other end of the road was tarred by a hotelier.
“Let us see the impact of what we are contributing to. We need power supply. Gov Peter Mbah promised us all these, and we are optimistic that he will provide us with all the basic necessities in this market. By so doing, we shall be paying these annual levies with joy.”
