Prince Paul Ikonne, a prominent chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has launched a strong criticism against Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, accusing his administration of imposing exorbitant taxes on traders in Aba.
Ikonne contends that despite the prevailing national economic hardship, the governor is compelling traders to pay a staggering total of N3.1 billion yearly, a move he claims is pushing the city’s commercial sector to the verge of collapse.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ujo Justice, Ikonne detailed the specific financial burden placed on the business community.
He revealed that traders who were previously paying a sum of N18,000 per shop are now being forced to pay more than double that amount, exceeding N36,000 per shop annually. Using the renowned Ariaria International Market as a prime example, Ikonne stated that with over 88,000 shops in that market alone, the new levy translates to an annual collection of approximately N3.1 billion.
Paul Ikonne questioned the rationale behind this policy, asking why the traders of Aba, who form the very heartbeat of commerce in southern Nigeria, should be strangled by what he described as a reckless and selfish-driven taxation policy. Beyond the issue of taxation, Ikonne further reiterated previous demands for accountability from the state government. He specifically called on Governor Otti to provide a public account for the N54 billion allegedly spent on the renovation of 51 schools, challenging the governor to show evidence of the completed projects.
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cc: Daily Post NG
