Tricycle operators accuse Rivers LG boss of extortion

Members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, Tricycle Section, have accused the Chairman of the Obio/Akpor Local Government Council of Rivers State, Prince Solomon Eke, of imposing multiple taxes on tricycle operators in the area.

The union specifically said the chairman imposed five different levies on the tricycle operators plying the Woji and Slaughter areas of the local government area, and asked him to explain the rationale behind the levies.

Eke, however, denied the allegation, stating that the union was not recognised in the local government, just as he accused the members of causing problems in the area.

But the state Treasurer of the NURTW, Tricycle Section, Mr Felix Brown, while presenting daily tickets allegedly issued by the council to journalists in Port Harcourt, described the multiple levies as illegal and harsh on the tricycle operators.

He said, “It is on this that we have now come to present tickets that he (Eke) is denying not collecting. The tickets include for the Caretaker Management Maintenance Committee, N200; booking ticket, Caretaker Committee, Obio/Akpor, N200.

“The Obio/Akpor Local Government Committee, Elelenwo branch, tricycle section, daily ticket, N200; Board of Internal Revenue, Ministry of Transport, N200; and Keke NAPEP internal revenue, N200.

“Put these five tickets together and you will see that the council is collecting over N1,200. That is why my people are complaining. I am calling on Governor Nyesom Wike to intervene.

“Let the governor please help us tell the Obio/Akpor Local Government Chairman that this is not his function. Let us do our union business. That is our concern.”

Eke, however, stated, “Tell the people that they are not recognised in this local government. I don’t know them and they should not operate here. They are causing problems in the local government.”