Some commercial tricycle operators in Kaduna state have lamented the multiple levies by several government-supported transport unions.

The operators made their grievances known while speaking with journalists on Wednesday in Kaduna.

David Akin, a commercial tricycle operator in Sabo, said the unions, numbering more than five, demanded daily taxes from them, a trend that made their operation rather challenging.

According to him, he pays at least N2,500 daily to them because there were several unions at different settlements within the metropolis.

“Different unions will just print receipts and you see boys with unruly attitudes harass us while we are trying to make ends meet,” he said.

Similarly, another operator, Yusuf Nda of Ungwan Rimi described the development as unfortunate, saying within Ungwan Rimi alone, there were more than four different unions that demanded daily taxes from them.

“You come across a union that would demand N100, N1000, N4,000 for either local government ticket, sticker or painting registration.

“This situation is what makes us increase our fare, and we will want the state government to intervene so that these multiple taxations will stop.”

In the same vain, Danlami Yunusa, operating in Narayi, said most operators, especially those who made daily returns to their owners, struggled to meet their target due to multiple taxes on them.

“Unfortunately, after paying some of these taxes and you deduct how much spent on fueling and servicing, you are left with barely enough,” he disclosed.

Meanwhile, Shegun Samuel, chairman of Kadsico Unit Union (KUU), a regulatory union at Karji, admitted that there were over 10 unions in Kaduna, each claiming to be the most authentic.

“Unfortunately, while the Keke operators are suffering, the state government too is not generating enough revenue due to the proliferation of these unions.”

He appealed to the state government to urgently collapse existing unions to come up with a single regulatory union for tricycle operators in the state.

However, a top staff member of the Kaduna State Board of International Revenue who sought anonymity said the board was responsible for taxation on vehicle registration, including particulars.

“There is also N100 daily levy the operators pay, aside this, every other union collecting levies are operating on their own.” the source said. 

(NAN)