Akwa Ibom State transport stakeholders have dissociated themselves from reports in some newspapers quoting the Joint Tax Board as restraining motorists from paying any form of tax to states.

The decision of the transport stakeholders was contained in a statement issued in Uyo on Monday signed by the Public Relations Officer (PRO), NUPENG, Tanker Drivers, Comrade Emmanuel Okorie; Vice President, Food Stuff and Transport, Deacon Effiong Idem; National Vice President of Heavy Duty and Tippers Association, Comrade Ezekiel Uyire; and former national union leader, Mr. Warrie Edoho.

The stakeholders stated that the Joint Tax Board “is not a representative of the state or federal government,” adding that “the publication neither bears the Nigerian Coat of Arms, nor its authenticity undersigned by the said publishers.”

They claimed that the statement was being circulated by corporate transporters and haulage transporters and therefore directed road users, motorists and other related unions to continue paying their respective road taxes and related levies at the state Ministry of Works and the union offices in the three Senatorial Districts of the state.