Mr Doubara
Kumokou Chairman of the Bayelsa State Unified Ticket Committee on Friday
said that it has harmonized and consolidated road taxes to curb multiple taxes
to commercial transporters.
The explanation is
coming on the heels of the recent protest by commercial vehicle drivers
operating in Yenagoa over exhorbitant and multiple charges by the state government.
Kumokou said in
Yenagoa that the committee was set up to tackle multiple taxation and exenorated Bayelsa government from
allegations.
.
He noted that the
complaints by commercial drivers were born out of ignorance of the workings of
the committee adding that they were saddled with the duties of protecting the
interest of all stakeholders in the transport system in Bayelsa..
"The unified
ticket system is a harmonized platform that brings together different cadres of
tickets under one umbrella for all commercial vehicle drivers across the state
capital and its environs.
“It is a one stop shop
arrangement that brings all the charges together and offers reliefs by way of
reduced charges compared to when paid in peace meals and saves time so that
operators can face their core business.
“It has ended the
illegal ticketing by unrecognized groups who hitherto did not render accounts
of ticket sales thereby sanitizing the system in the overall interest of
transport operators and the government.
“It is a win-win
situation because the state government receives the revenue from road taxes "
Kumokou said.
He noted that the
Unified Ticketing Committee was seeking ways of addressing the complaints of
commercial drivers following the intervention of Bayelsa Deputy Governor
Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo.
The chairman, recalled
that the Unified Ticketing system has been in place since 1999 adding
that the present state government has limited agencies collecting road taxes.
He said that the
Ministry of Environment, the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority
to stop further collection of tolls and tickets from the commercial vehicle drivers in
the state.
He said that
streamlining the revenue collection was aimed at checking multiplicity of taxes
and regretted that officials of Yenagoa Local Government were yet to comply
with the policy as its officials claim to be autonomous.
"This has led to difficulty in harmonizing
the Unified Ticketing System in the state , but we are very optimistic that the
Deputy Governor will soon resolve all issues related to tax collection from
commercial vehicle Drivers.
“Our appeal to them is
to be calm and cooperate with the state government in moving the transportation
sub sector forward." Kumokou said.
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