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By Amos Okioma, Yenagoa
Against the backdrop of the recent protest embarked on by commercial vehicle drivers in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital, and its environs, over the high ticket rates put in place by the state government, chairman of the Bayelsa State Unified Ticket, Comrade Doubara Komukou, has denied allegations that the state is to blame.
While fielding questions from reporters in Yenagoa, Komukou said the multiple taxation experienced and complained about by commercial drivers was not caused by the state government as being alleged by stakeholders.
He said: “The unified ticket system is a harmonized platform that brings together different cadres of tickets under one umbrella for all commercial vehicle drivers across the state capital and its environs.”
He clarified that an agreement on the continuation of the Unified Ticketing System was reached, being the outcome of the meeting between the state deputy governor, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, and the aggrieved commercial vehicle drivers.
The chairman, who is also a merchant in tax collection at the Bayelsa State Board of Internal Revenue pointed out that the unified ticketing system had been in place since the administration of the first civilian governor of the state, Late Chief DSP Alamieyeseigha, adding that the present state government has intimated the ministry of Environment, the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority to stop further collection of tickets from the commercial drivers in the state.
Commenting on the incidence of multiple taxation, he stressed that it is only Yenagoa Local government Council that has refused to comply with the directives as the officials of the council claimed that the council is autonomous.
This, he said, has led to difficulty in harmonising the unified ticketing system in the state. He however promised that all issues related to tax collection from commercial vehicle drivers will be resolved amicably, while appealing to them to be calm and cooperate with the state government to move the transportation sub-sector forward.
