Drivers operating under the Transport Company Of Anambra State TRACAS yesterday accused the Management of the Company of not remitting over N70 Billion revenue generated by them to the coffers of the state government.
The drivers who were on a protest at the Government House Awka contended that their motor parks are not being up graded despite the promises made by the Management that part of the sum would be used to provide facilities for the parks.
They equally urged the state government to probe the accounts of the transport company alleging heavy and multiple taxation by the Management.
The Vice President of High Way TRACAS Drivers operating outside Anambra state Mr. Okwudiri Felix Okonkwo alleged that they generating revenue for government but they are being treated as slaves .
According to him,the purpose of the protest was bring to governor Charles Soludo ill treatment being mated on them by the management of TACAS .
He said every driver who ply Lagos and Abuja highways pay N15,000 per loading and they made over 10 trips to Lagos and Abuja every month.
If you make five trips to and from a month,you are to pay N300,000 every month . We don’t know what the management want to stifle with multiple levies. We are doing the protest to get the attention of the governor to the bad treatment being mated to us by the TRACAS management despite our contribution to Company” he said.
According to him, despite all the money they pay on every trip the company does have any park of its throughout federation.
He said that the management of tracas ordered that we pay N45,000 to their private vehicles cars to monitor their activities.
“We accepted to have trackers in our vehicles but they must pay for the fixing and give us a written agreement that if any happens to motors they will pay ,but refuse. At stage Chairman ,Anambra state House committee on transport intervene and after three days ,they asked for enforcement.
“They stop us on highway and collect N85,000 for the trackers and renewal permit and fine. We are crying to the governor to intervene and save from TRACAS intimation ,harassment and extortion. We are in support of the governor but the management of TRACAS is sabotaging our efforts’ he said .
The secretary to TRACAS Drivers, Benjamin ,said that management is not treating fairly as partner in the business and appeal to Soludo to come rescue them.
“The current management of TRACAS is doing well. In 2019 they forced us to pay N29,000 for speed limit til today they have not they want force us to pay N45000. We are not against the tracking devices but they must pay for them and signed agreement that anything that happen to vehicles in highway, they must take the responsibilities” he said.
Addressing the protesting drivers, the Secretary to the State Government ,Prof solo Chukwulobe commended then for the peaceful conduct and promises to relay their complaint to the governor.
He assured that within a week they would hear from the governor.
He promised to speak to the management of the company to step down enforcement pending the resolution of the crisis.
CREDIT: Okey Maduforo
