Anambra Sacks Park Touts, Bans Unions Of Tricycles, Shuttle Buses

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Across Nigeria, News From The State Thursday, September 29th, 2022

(AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Anambra State Government has sacked all the park touts and banned all unions of tricycle and shuttle buses.

The decision was taken after Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s meeting with State Executive Council.

A statement in Awka by Commissioner for Information Paul Nwosu said the decision was with immediate effect.

Soludo asked all the sacked motor park touts to proceed and register in their local government areas for government-sponsored training and life-supporting skills.

The government alleged security reports indicated that those masquerading under different names as tricycle and shuttle bus unions were orchestrating the breakdown of law and order in the State.

The statement reads: ” In the light of the above and in order to forestall breakdown of law and order, the state government hereby suspends all tricycle and shuttle bus unions in the State with immediate effect for six months, pending further investigations and possible harmonization of the unions which shall have a leadership known to, and recognized by, the State Government.

“Consequent on this and as a follow up to government’s recent consultation with the direct representatives of tricycle and shuttle bus operators, Government has considered their plea and decided to offer them a convenient payment option and other fringe benefits that could add value to their well-being.

“Tricycle operators now have the option of paying N4,000 weekly or N15,000 monthly. However, tricycle operators in the 8 Local Government Areas that are affected by the curfew will pay N3000 weekly or N12,000 monthly.

“They will revert to the normal rates of N4,000 weekly or N15,000 monthly as soon as the curfew is lifted. Shuttle bus operators will pay N 5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly.

“Township bus will pay N5, 000 weekly or N20,000 monthly. Mini truck and pick up will pay N5,000 weekly or N20,000 monthly respectively. Intra-state will pay N6,250 weekly or N25,000 monthly.

“Loading and offloading in Government (public) parks will now be free. Moving forward, every compliant commercial vehicle driver will get a free Health Insurance cover that would enable the insured to have access to basic health and emergency services in any Anambra State hospital.

“Government wishes to reiterate its ban on touts (agbero) and cult groups that are used to enforce illegal collection of tolls and taxes. Only government-accredited agents are entitled to collect tolls.

“Alternatively, the commercial vehicle operator could go and pay at any of the banks or any Anambra State Internal Revenue Service (AIRS) pay-point nearest to him.

The statement further enjoined operators and members of the public to report the activities of agberos to designated telephone numbers, while the disbanded motor park touts and cultists