Timber Union Protests Multiple Taxation

The Plank Sellers and Buyers Association in Benin protested against multiple taxation of their members by the Edo State Government.
The protesters, who besieged the Government House under heavy downpour alleged that the protest became necessary to register their disapproval over the issue.
The Spokesman of the association, Mr Osahon Edohen, said a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed with Edo State  Government in 2009.
According to him, the members agreed to pay a fee of N1,000 for transporting timber within Benin as against N6,000 outside Benin.
Edohen, however, said that the agreement had been breached by the State Government as members were now made to pay N12,500 for transporting timber products within Benin and N33,000 outside Benin.
He said that the members were also being taxed by the State Government and Local Governments as well as the Ministry of Commerce and the Board of Internal Revenue.
According to Edohen, we are made to pay for all manners of illegal ticketing; just as the State Ministry of Environment is imposing the idea of insurance on us.
He said that they were pained to the marrow because the Ministry of Environment was making the insurance scheme compulsory for them.
The protesters, who resisted the security operatives in Government House, insisted they would have audience with Gov. Adams Oshiomhole.
The Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who later spoke to the protesters, assured them that government would look into their complaints.
He said that the governor was presently out of the state.