Tricycle/Motorcycle: 3,000 persons to get job for electronic levy collection in Gombe
No fewer than 3,000 persons are set to get employment. as Gombe moves to unify levy collection from tricycle and motorcycle operators popularly known as ‘Achaba’.
Speaking during a Town Hall meeting held with joint unions, security agencies on biometrics of members, Gombe State Internal Revenue Service Chairman, Abubakar Tata, said this would end collection on the road as previously done by the Associations.
According to Tata, The individuals are expected to function as taskforce, who would help harmonise the process of collecting daily levies electronically adding that riders would be better identified.
He bemoaned the situation where sellers of motorcycles and tricycles acted as racketeers registering newly purchased bikes without due recourse to the service and other relevant organisations.
Tata said, “Today’s programme is about a town hall meeting that is meant to discuss issues of security threat to Gombe State and also to ensure that all vehicles in the state are registered with the trade union and the right government institutions.
“They should stop registering their vehicles from the vendor. We discovered that they buy their Keke or motorcycle and in the same place that they bought they give you plate number and vehicle papers which is completely wrong. This means what has been bought was not registered with Internal Revenue Service and when they get lost there is no way you can trace them.
“So, we are trying to unify everything so that they won’t be on the road causing accident before they collect union dues. Dues can be collected in an electronic way. The reason why we are digitalizing the process.
“With this, we are going to create over 3,000 jobs instead of stopping people on the road collecting the money, the task force will be scanning the motorcycles and if they decide you have not been paying you will be made to pay and when you have outstanding it will show in your record.”
While lamenting the challenges posed by the unions in collecting levy on the road, Tata noted that the government is empowered to collect such levies following the overwhelming responsibilities.
“Over time, you must have seen how they Okada union collecting dues on the road. However, Gombe Internal Revenue Service does not go to the road to collect revenue but we intend to introduce it all the collection is being done union and association of motorcycle and tricycle.
“The law has empowered the service that anyone using the road should pay road maintenance levy. The service has not been collecting this every day. Unfortunately, they don’t construct road or provide any item in the hospital,” he said.
Also speaking, Ibrahim Manu, Chairman, Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), welcomed the biometrics, adding that the the union would give the needed support.
“My members will do everything within our power to ensure government succeeds,” Manu said.
