Nsa Gill, Calabar
Cross River Governor Ben Ayade has suspended activities of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA).
A statement by his Special Adviser Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, noted: “It has been observed that in spite of His Excellency, the governor, Sir Ben Ayade’s directives as well as the provisions of the Cross River State Tax Exemption Law, agents of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) were still engaged in the sale of tickets to bus, taxi, okada and tricycle operators in the state.
“Consequently, His Excellency has ordered the immediate suspension of the activities of the agency in the state.
“In addition, His Excellency has directed security agents to arrest anybody found selling tickets or collecting any form of tax from those exempted from paying tax in the state.
“His Excellency will henceforth, not tolerate the flagrant disregard of the tax exemption law which has been in place for over three years now.”
State Chairman of anti-tax agency, Bishop Emmah Isong, also warned over illegal collections of taxes, dues, levies, revenues, and tolls.
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In a statement on Sunday, Isong said” “it has come to the notice of the anti-tax agency that despite Ayade’s directives to end illegal taxation in Cross River State, some proscribed agencies, unions, LGA revenue Staff, individuals, and tax consultants have taken it upon themselves to continually extort from innocent citizens.
“This is not acceptable even after the Governor had issued several warnings to the perpetrators to desist from such inhuman act of extorting their hard-earned money. Besides, such an act is against the Cross River State Tax Exemption Laws.
“The Agency, however, frowns at such flagrant abuse of laws and directive, warning that those still engaged in illegal collections of taxes, dues, levies, tolls and revenues from Keke-Napep, Taxi Drivers, Hawkers, market women, shop owners, and Small Scale Businesses shall be prosecuted by the law if caught.
“The Agency warns that henceforth, anybody caught in this illegal business shall be handed over to law enforcement officers for immediate prosecution.”
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