Business
Double Taxation Worries PH Traders
The Chairman of the
Fruits and Vegetables Union, Port Harcourt, Chief Maxwell Nwala has raised an alarm over multiple taxation meted to its members.
Nwala who disclosed this in his office to The Tide on Friday called on the Rivers State Governor, Barr. Nyesom Wike to wade into the matter.
He explained that the number of government agencies that collected various taxes from them has affected the business negatively.
According to him, a number of revenue agencies visit the market in different guise with the aim of generating funds for the government.
“We have written to the governor to liaise with the Port Harcourt city council to let us know where we belong and who to pay taxes to”, he said.
Nwala further urged the state government to clear the air between the state and PHALGA to enable them know who to pay taxes to.
“This is to forestall confrontation with any government agency in the future”, he said.
He lamented the amount paid by members who come from the northern part of the country due to double taxation.
“We have cried out to the relevant authorities but nothing tangible has come out of our numerous appeals”, he lamented.
On the sanitary condition at the market, he said it was in order and excellent.
According to him, various health institutions in the state have given the market a clean bill of health, including an award recently.
In the area of security at the market, Nwala explained that the union was in partnership with the various security agencies in the state in order to forestall the breakdown of law and order at the market.
“I can say security here is 90%, because Police, DSS, SARS and our internal arrangement are on ground so there is no cause to panic in terms of security at the market,” he assured.