FG Institutes Committee To Address Alleged Multiple Taxation In Maritime Sector
By Stella Enenche, Abuja
The Federal Government has instituted a 5-man joint ministerial committee to mediate and proffer solutions to challenges of multiple taxation, harassment amongst others faced by maritime truck owners in the country.
The Minister of Transportation, Sen. Said Alkali, made this known when he received a delegation comprising of the National Executive of the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO) and the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) in Abuja, according to a statement made available on Wednesday by the ministry’s, Muhammad Zakari.
The ministerial committee comprises of the Federal Ministry of Transportation and the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The minister explained that the meeting and constitution of the joint committee became imperative following correspondence from the Unions on their intent to embark on a nationwide strike due to unabated destruction of trucks, brutalization of truck drivers, illegal tariffs, amongst others by associations and groups.
Alkali identified the crucial role the association plays in the affairs of the country, stating that transportation is the gateway of the nation’s economy.
He noted that the sector can not succeed without the cooperation and collaboration of both unions.
On her part, a member of the Board of Trustees (BOT), AMATO, Folake Soji-George while presenting the Union’s position stated that challenges faced by the association informed the unanimous decision of maritime trucking Stakeholders to withdraw it’s services to press home their demand.
She disclosed that the maritime trucking community has for a protracted period being bedeviled with scourge of unabated destruction of it’s assets (trucks) brutalization of it’s drivers by a certain group which according to her has made operations become unbearable.
In his address, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Chief Aloga Ogbogo stated that the body has highlighted the excessive towing practices by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) .
He raised concerns of increasing intimidation, harassment, brutalization and killings of truck drivers,
According to him, adding these atrocities have become unbearable, negatively impacting their businesses and has hindered transporters from renewing their fleets, as their income is directly tied to turnaround time.
The constituted consists of the Permanent Secretary of Marine and Blue Economy, Oloruntola Olufemi as Chairman and his counterpart of the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Adeleye Adeoye as Co-Chairman.
The Director Legal Services, Pius Oteh- Secretary while the Director, Road Transport and Mass Transit Administration, Musa Ibrahim and Director, Maritime Services, Babatunde Sule as members.
The committee is expected to provide findings and recommendations to the Minister within two weeks.
