By Charles Ogbonnaya
The Deputy Governor of Abia State, Sir Ude Oko Chukwu has warned that touting activities undermine Government efforts at providing infrastructural development and massive road rehabilitation that will be of immense benefit not only to Abians but to the nation.
To this end, Sir Oko Chukwu pointed out that Government will no longer tolerate touts who parades themselves as revenue collectors in the section of the State.
The Abia Deputy Governor who made this known during a meeting he held with members of the State Internally Generated Revenue, lGR Council and representatives of various transport Unions and Keke operators in the State at Michael Okpara Auditorium, Umuahia.
Sir Oko Chukwu who also doubles as the Chairman of the State lGR Council disclosed that the meeting which is at his instance was designed to interact with the bodies, find out their challenges and best possible way to bring sanity in the transport sector.
He used the forum to direct members operating under the banned Union of ASATOA to collapse themselves into ATRIWA and TOAN Unions recognised by Government and assured them that they will always be carried along in Government policies and programmes.
Speaking also, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport, Deaconess Ijeoma Clara Okere said that the essence of the stakeholders meeting with particularly those in the transport is to brainstorm on how to move the state forward and boost the internally Generated Revenue of the state.
She further said that the ministry through the assistance of the office of the Governor has brought sanity in the transport sector and lauded the strides recorded by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in the state.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Board of Internal Revenue, Chief Celestine Agbara said Government decided to harmonise the payment of revenues through the E-Ticketing which is the first of its kind in the country and requested all the transport Unions and affiliate bodies to cooperate with the Government to enable the system aimed at harmonizing revenue windows in the State work according to plan.
Contributing, the General Manager, Abia State Signage and Advertising Agency, Mr Tony Otuonye warned that henceforth, it will be illegal for motorists to put on red light signs during the day without permission from ABSAA, while payment will be based on an assessment of business lines of the various organizations.
In their various reactions, the National President of ATRIWA, Saint Moses Ogbonna, a transporter, Mr Amaobi Ohaeri, a representative of Abia Link Mass Transport, Mrs Obianuju Azubuike and Mr Stanley Amananso of God Is Good Motors commended the Abia State Government for introducing the E-Ticketing system of payment but called for harmonization of vendors involved in revenue collection across the State.
