Thousands of dispatch riders for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday gather for front of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Secretariat to protest against alleged multiple taxation.
Dispatch Riders Protest for FCTA Secretariat Over Alleged Multiple Taxation Thousands of dispatch riders for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Thursday gather for front of the **Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) Secretariat to protest against alleged multiple taxation. The riders call on FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, make he intervene and stop wetin dem describe as extortion by people wey claim say dem be agents of both the Area Councils and the FCT Administration. Speaking for the group, Olawale Ilesanmi talk say dispatch riders don dey comply with their tax obligations, paying different levies to Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari Area Council, and Gwagwalada Area Council. According to am, dem dey pay about ₦13,000 yearly to the area councils. But he say a new revenue collector don show up, demanding ₦25,000 payment under the name of FCT Administration. He add say many riders’ motorcycles don dey impound, and owners forced to pay the new levy before dem release their bikes. The protest, according to am, na to say “no to multiple taxation” and to beg the FCT minister to end the alleged unlawful charges. “We riders know say na our statutory duty to pay tax, and we don dey pay every year to AMAC, Bwari and Gwagwalada,” he talk. “But suddenly, another group of tax collectors appear with higher demand in the name of FCT Administration.” He also explain say riders still dey pay ₦300 ticket each time dem enter any market for Abuja. “This mean say if we enter market 10 times for one day, we go pay ₦300 ten times,” he add.
