The association accused the Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration of over taxing its members and clamping on their businesses.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association (IPMAN), Enugu Depot, has threatened to operations shut down in Anambra State over alleged arrest of members.
The association accused the Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration of over taxing its members and clamping on their businesses.
IPMAN Chairman, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, who gave the warning on Friday, shortly after he was re-elected to pilot the affairs of the members for a second term of three years promised that he would continue to work hard to ameliorate the difficulties facing its members in their businesses.
He said the challenge is highly prevalent in Anambra State, where after the Association had an agreement with the state government; yet ASWAMA, signage officials, and Ocha Brigade officials were still coming to demand money, arrest and detain IPMAN members and their workers.
According to him, all efforts to call the attention of the Anambra State Government on the issue have proved abortive and not yielded any fruit.
He regretted that some of the IPMAN members having businesses in Anambra State were taken to court and jailed or given the option of fines due to their refusal to comply with illegal and over taxation.
He said, “Since the removal of the fuel subsidy, members of IPMAN have continued to find it difficult to survive the harsh business environment confronting all business concerns in the country.
“Even as they are struggling to keep business afloat and retain their workers, Anambra state government in its quest to surge-up its internal revenue has come so hard on individual members and their business outfits in the area.
“The latest development also undermines agreement with various state governments that IPMAN will be paying a collective tax to ensure all members pay and check issues of multiple taxation.”
The IPMAN boss however applauded Ebonyi and Enugu State Governments for cooperating and supporting its members and their activities as well as state governments of some parts of Imo, Abia, Kogi and Cross River States where its members operate as well.
He noted that IPMAN members had been a great pillar of support in the past three years in office, making it possible for the association to achieve some milestones noting that his re-election is a call for more responsibility.
Leave a Reply