NURTW Hails Rivers Tax Harmonisation Policy

The Zonal Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Boma Tom-George, has commended the Rivers State Government for the laudable initiative to harmonise all taxes affecting commercial drivers in the state.
The NURTW chairman, who made the commendation while speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt, said the unified taxation system, if well implemented, would end the multiple taxation regime experienced in the past by commercial drivers.
He enjoined members of NURTW to support the policy of the state government.
He explained that the tax-harmonisation did not conflict with the normal daily union dues paid by members, but rather stopped the payment of multiple taxation from one local government to the other, urging members to pay the harmonisation tax to the state government and their dues to the union.
According to him, “the Chief Tax Officer of the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service, told us that the harmonisation system has to do with the local government tickets and road tax. He did not mention any way that it will affect that of the NURTW; we are union and every member of the union has to pay his union dues. He also said that as a member, it does not stop you from paying your dues to your union.”
Tom-George described the harmonisation of the taxes as a welcome development, saying the leadership of the union has instructed its members to collaborate and support the state government to succeed in their policy implementation.
This particular policy is in favour of the union, reason being that multiple taxes had been a burden to members. A member will buy local government ticket in Port Harcourt Local Government, goes to Obio/Akpor LGA, the taskforce will apprehend him, he goes to Etche, taskforce there will also apprehend him. It has been a reoccurring incident of multiple taxation. And all this while, we have been hammering on it and for the government to come up with this policy, it is highly acknowledged,” he said.
The Tide reports that after due consultation with relevant stakeholders, the State Internal Revenue had announced the new policy, asking all commercial drivers in the state to pay taxes directly to the Rivers State account and not to their respective unions beginning from last Monday.