The Anambra State Government has announced the ban on tricycle and shuttle bus unions in the state. It also sacked touts from motor parks in the state.

It said only government-accredited agents are entitled to now collect tolls at the parks.

The directive was contained in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Mr Paul Nwosu, and made available to journalists in Awka, on Thursday.

This is following the seemingly unresolved disagreement between the state government and transport unions over the revenue collection system, a situation that made the transport operators embark on strike last week.

But Nwosu, in the statement, said security reports indicated that those masquerading under the names of such unions orchestrate breakdown of law and order in the state.

The state government asked all the motor park touts to proceed to register in their various localities for government-sponsored training and life-supporting skills.

The commissioner said the steps became necessary as conflicts arose from various persons claiming to be the appropriate authority to unionise tricycle and shuttle bus operators or owners who had openly rejected these claims and insisted that the unions were not working for them.

The statement read in part, “In the light of the above and in order to forestall breakdown of law and order, the state government hereby suspends all tricycle and shuttle bus unions in the state with immediate effect for six months, pending further investigations and possible harmonisation of the unions which shall have a leadership known to, and recognised by the state government.

“Consequent on this and as a follow up to government’s recent consultation with the direct representatives of tricycle and shuttle bus operators, the government has considered their plea and decided to offer them a convenient payment option and other fringe benefits that could add value to their well-being.

“Tricycle operators now have the option of paying N4,000 weekly or N15,000 monthly. However, tricycle operators in the eight local government areas affected by curfew will pay N3,000 weekly or N12,000 monthly. They will revert to the normal rates of N4,000 weekly or N15,000 monthly as soon as the curfew is lifted.

“Shuttle bus operators will pay N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly. But because of the ASUU strike that resulted in the closure of universities, NANS shuttle bus will pay N2,500 weekly or N10,000 monthly. This group will also revert to the normal rates of N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly as soon as the strike is called off. Taxi will pay N4,375 weekly or N17,500 monthly. The Township buses will pay N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly. Mini truck and Pickup will pay N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly respectively. Intra-state will pay N6,250 weekly or N25,000 monthly.

“Loading and offloading in government (public) parks will now be free. Moving forward, every compliant commercial vehicle driver will get a free health insurance cover that would enable the insured to have access to basic health and emergency services in any Anambra State hospital.

“Government wishes to reiterate its ban on touts (agboro) and cult groups that are used to enforce illegal collection of tolls and taxes. Only government-accredited agents are entitled to collect tolls. Alternatively, the commercial vehicle operator could go and pay at any of the banks or any Anambra State Internal Revenue Service pay-point nearest to him,” the statement added. (The PUNCH)

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