Abia State Government has inaugurated the leadership of Market Committee Executives of the various markets in the state.
Inuagurating the Committee in his office, the Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Dr. Cosmos Ndukwe advised them not to impose unauthorized levies on traders but comply with the state government’s directives as well as liase with the Ministry to maintain cleanliness, peace and security in the various markets.
Describing the members of the market committees as men and women of proven intergrity, the Commissioner expressed confidence that they will accomplish the task before them.
Ndukwe who further decried the illegal collection of taxes, imposition of levies on traders as well as other sharp practices sternly warned that government will not hesitate to sack those involved in such acts.
“If you go there and start imposing levies on traders and we find out, we will sack you”, Ndukwe said.
He implored them to bridge the gap between the government and traders adding that they should carry the traders along in their day to day affairs so as to move the market forward and achieve a robust Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for the state.
The Commissioner lauded Governor Okezie Ikpeazu for putting infrastructures in place to enhance the economic well being of the traders.
Contributing, the Abia state Chairman Board of Internal Revenue,Mr Celestine Agbara while describing the inuaguration as a welcome development , urged the market executives to assist the state government organise markets and raise the bar of the state’s IGR.
He disclosed that government has automated revenue collection in the state with a view to ending unnecessary collection of illegal levies which are hitherto not accounted to government coffers.
Agbara added the the state government will not spare anyone or group involved in illegal collection of taxes and levies in the various markets.
Earlier,the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Chief Micheal Egwu urged members of the various market Executives to acquit themselves in the discharge of their duties and stated that the ministry has the responsibility to remove them if found wanting.
Chairman of the Abia State Amalgamated Traders Association (ASMATA) Lucky Akabueze, in his response on behalf of other market leaders assured that they will work on tandem with the state government’s polices.
