Despite the sufferings of Nigerians, (Lagosians) under the All Progressives Congress, (APC) led administration, the Lagos state government has again, mandated a sum of N800 daily levy for all commercial drivers in the state.
According to the state’s Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, each commercial bus driver, going forward, is expected to pay a daily sum of N800, totaling N24,000 monthly, and N292,000 yearly.
While Lagosians are wondering why the situation, Dr. Olowo said, the N800 daily fee, will cover the personal income taxes of commercial drivers, pay local government levies, and money for waste clearing of motor parks.
Interestingly, the expected daily N800 levy, will not cover the everyday compulsory dues collected by the state’s National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).
Again, NURTW chairman for Lagos state, Alhaji Musiliu Akinsanya, aka ‘MC Oluomo,’ also affirmed that, the new N800 daily levy is for the state government, while the Union dues remain.
Oluomo noted that, NURTW, and the state government will work together for smooth consolidation of all the fees, collected in different Local Government Areas of the state.
In his own opinion, the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transportation, Mr. Toyin Fayinka, believed that, the new development, will totally restructure the state’s transport sector by bringing sanity to motor parks, and generating more funds for the state.
Fayinka is also of the view that, cost of transportation in Lagos state will reduce under the new adjustments because, money collected as levies/dues before now, were lost to unknown persons.
Notwithstanding, only time will tell if the cost of transportation will actually reduce in Lagos state with this new development.