The coordinator of Open Alliance for Civil Society, Chris Azor, has decried Anambra’s new planned tax policy that requires wheelbarrow pushers and related bodies to be included in tax payment.

Mr Azor disclosed the group’s displeasure in an interview, saying the group had written to the appropriate state authorities, requesting detailed clarifications on the decision.

He said that the purported taxing of the core poor and most vulnerable groups, especially wheelbarrow pushers and the likes, were seen and described as an unfriendly policy to the downtrodden.

Mr Azor said that the group had written to Patricia Igwebuike, the state Commissioner for Transportation, and Richard Madiebo, the chairman, Anambra Inland Revenue Service (AIRS), seeking detailed clarifications on the propriety of the exercise.

He said that Wheelbarrow pushers and other vulnerable groups should be exempted from these biometric capturing and taxation.

“Countries all over the globe are giving tax exemptions, with palliatives and social protection to the core poor affected by COVID-19 and sundry emergencies and general economic downturn.

“The state government can come up with other innovative strategies to raise revenue, rather than stifling the poor and vulnerable.

“We need convincing explanations within the next one week to cushion the effect of the idea on the citizens,” Mr Azor said.

The group reacted to the government announcement contained in a statement signed by the permanent secretary, Anambra State Ministry of Transport, Louisa Ezeanya.

Ms Ezeanya explained that the ministry conducted the biometric enrollment and registration in collaboration with the Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS).

In a swift reaction, Sylvia Tochukwu-Ngige, the head of Taxpayer Education and Enlightenment Team AIRS, said that the ongoing state government biometric enumeration and registration of all stakeholders and operators on transportation in the state, when completed, would help control security challenges and increase IGR of the state.

Also, Christian Aburime, the governor’s media aide, described the idea as a transformational tool to streamline the state revenue collection and control the state’s security challenges as the enrollment would aid security checks.

(NAN)