Motor parts dealers, motor and motorcycle mechanics and related artisans in Minna, Niger State capital on Thursday embarked on a two-day warning strike over alleged imposition of N30, 000 as levy per mechanic workshop in parts of the state.
Also, traders at the Abdulkadir Kure ultra modern market have cried out over what they termed multiple taxation, denial or right to shops and handing over the running of the market to non-Nigerians who are using language advantage over others to commandeer the shops.
The allegation of the multiple taxation, arbitrary increase in shop rates in the markets among others were coming barely 48 hours after the state government embarked on demolition of shops along the Tunga market and those along major roads within the metropolis.
All mechanics workshops and related artisans within Minna, the Niger State capital including; Keteren-Gwari, Bosso road, eastern and western by-pass were deserted when our correspondent visited as they protested what they termed, ‘arbitrary increase and multiple levy by the state government’.
Our correspondent who spoke to some of the mechanics was told that the state government also increased almost twice the cost of shops inside the markets while every little space inside the market was sold to non-Nigerians doing business in the state.
Owner of one of the mechanic workshops along Emir’s palace road who gave his name as Adisa said, “I was told that henceforth I will be paying N30, 000 every six months per work shop to the state government”.
Other mechanics and traders who also in the same vein lamented what they termed multiple taxation, arbitrary increase in shop rent, selling of every little space inside the market to traders, most of them from Niger Republic but are doing business in Nigeria.
State Commissioner for Information, Tourism and Culture, Jonathan Vatsa, could not be reached for comments as he was said to have gone out on an assignment when our correspondent visited his office, calls put across to him were also not picked.
Also the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Malam Jibrin Ndace, promised to get details of the issue before responding when his response was sought on the strike which has led to build up tension in the metropolis but failed to get back to our correspondent as promised as at the time of filing the report.