By CHRISTIAN NJOKU

Some commercial bus drivers in Calabar metropolis, on Thursday, took to the streets to protest alleged multiple taxation by government agencies.

During the protest that caused major traffic disruption across major roads in the city, the drivers described the development as worrisome and demotivating.

Some of them who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), urged the state government to intervene in the interest of justice and fairness.

Mr Dominic Nyong a mini-bus driver, said that drivers faced series of harassment from revenue collectors on a daily basis.

He said that although mini-bus drivers in the city buy daily operational permit tickets for N700, they were still being harassed to pay other unexplained levies.

“We buy tickets every day, even on public holidays, yet they won’t allow us to work freely. We are harassed at any point we stop to pick up passengers.

“These revenue officers accuse drivers of all manner of offenses such wrong parking, stickers, sanitation among others, and they collect between N60,000 and N100,000 as fine,” he said.

Another driver, Austin Essien, said that they were at the mercy of state revenue officers, police, motor park unions, and task forces who extorted them despite evidence of daily ticket purchase.

“Some of us driving commercial buses are graduates, we know our rights and responsibilities. We are in this business because there are no jobs yet.

“If we are harassed this way for indulging in legitimate activities, it is demotivating, we should be encouraged for being law abiding and level-headed,” he said.

Essien listed the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency, Vehicle Inspection Officers, Ticket Enforcement Team and the Traffic Management and Regulatory Agency as the outfits that had become a thorn in the flesh drivers.

Also speaking to NAN, Emmanuel Edet, another protester and driver, said that ticket enforcements lasted beyond work hours, making driving business to be hugely discouraging.

“We will continue this protest until the state government addresses our concerns,” he warned.

Responding, the Special Adviser to the Governor on General Duties, Ekpenyong Akiba, said that some of the revenue agents and enforcement teams being listed by the drivers were illegal.

Akiba announced a temporary suspension of all forms of taxation and revenue enforcements linked to the complaints, pending a meeting with stakeholders.

He said that the state government would meet with representatives of the protesters to ensure fruitful conversation.

The special adviser said that the Gov. Bassey Out-led government was committed to making the state a safe haven for all categories of business.

Also speaking, Mr Stanley Nsemo, the Member Representing Calabar Municipality in the Cross River House of Assembly, said that the state government was against multiple taxation.

“The services being rendered by commercial bus drivers are quite essential to the economy of the state, to extort them is unfair because it will affect the public,” he said. (NAN)