The Association of Table Water Producers in Edo State on Monday commenced an indefinite strike in protest against what they perceive as multiple taxation by the state government. The leadership of the association held a meeting at their secretariat located at 19 MM Way in Benin City, where they directed their members to withdraw their services to the general public until the issues are resolved.
The Chairman of the association, Michael Ogbebor, stated that the withdrawal of service is in response to the government’s imposition of a daily haulage fee of One Thousand Naira on every water distribution vehicle. The association views this fee as an additional form of taxation, which they believe is unjustified and unsustainable.
According to Ogbebor, ” Edo State Revenue Service has been coming up with different strategies to collect money from us.
“Firstly, they came up with Agricultural Produce Levy, we argued it and told them we don’t fall into that category.
“They now came up with mineral and steel, we also told them we don’t fall into this category.
“That was when they came up with haulage fee and imposed it on us.
“They have put this haulage fee at N1000.00 per vehicle in a day.
“This means that if you have up to 10 distribution vehicles on the road, you pay N10,000.00 on daily basis.
“This is unacceptable. Cost of production is very high. How do they expect us to cope?.
“It will interest you to know that this is different from yearly levies that we pay to the state government.
“Some pay N15,000.00 evey year. Some pay up to N50,000.00, some far more, depending on the capacity of your factory.
“In the mist of this, you still encounter some persons who will come up at the middle of the year to request for mid-year levy.
“The Ministry of Environment and Sustainability also do not give us breathing space. It’s from one levy to another.
“The local government where your factory is situated is on our neck. Why can’t government put all these levies into one so that it doesn’t amount to multiple taxation?”
The Association appealed to the State government to look into their plight with a view to reducing the burden on them, while assuring the general public that they will restore their services as soon as the issues are resolved.
However, the strike action has triggered a spike in the prices of packaged water among Wholesalers and Retail shop owners in Benin Metropolis, depending on the sizes and the products.
Some dealers who had some products were seen selling a bag of packaged water between N350,00 and N450,00 depending on the product.
