By Citizenship Daily
The Benue State Government has decried multiple taxation and illegal levies collections in local markets and business centers in the urban areas of the State, especially during this yuletide period.
The Senior Special Assistant, SSA to Governor Hyacinth Iormem Alia on Youth Organization and Illegal Levies, Hon. Gbenda Terver, in a press statement signed by his media Aide Chia Saint Paul said government has therefore placed a ban on multiple taxation and collection of illegal levies.
The SSA who lamented the hardship being faced by Benue citizenry and residents, occasioned by multiple taxations and Illegal levies collections in the markets and highways across the State, noted that this has not only created untold hardship for the people, but is also inimical to the development of a fragile State like Benue, especially at this critical moment that the nation is experiencing high economic challenges.
According to Gbenda, the only constitutionally gazetted, recognized and licensed bodies saddled with the responsibility of revenue collection for the state are Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) and Revenue Departments of the various 23 Local Government Areas of the State.
Consequently, the statement cautioned unauthorized bodies and perpetrators including General Chief, APC Youth Leader, Central Youth Leader, Local Government Youth Leader, Community Youth Leader, Area Youth Leader, Peace Committee, Maintenance, Clearance, MINDA development association, JEMGBAGH development association, JECHIRA development association, SANKERA development association, KWANDE development association et cetera, often found on the highways and market places, extorting commuters and traders, to desists from such devilish and unholy activities or be ready to face the full consequences of the law prohibiting illegal levies collections, as enacted by the 10th Benue State House of Assembly 2024.
Similarly, the office of Youth Organization and Illegal Levies, Benue State, has directed all the constituted Taskforce team on illegal levies collections across the 23 Local Government Areas of Benue State to close ranks and work assiduously with their various Local Government Chairmen and all the relevant security operatives within their domains to ensure the full implementation and compliance of the law prohibiting illegal levies and taxations.
The SSA also promised to remain supportive to the Taskforce and the law enforcement agencies to ensure a Benue free from all forms of criminality and Illegalities, during and after the yuletide, so as to complement the developmental strides of the Alia led administration.
