Fayose, tipper owners settle rift over tax

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and tipper owners in the state yesterday settled their rift over disagreement on the new tax regime introduced by the government, that every tipper lorry load of gravel or sand should attract N1,000. Both parties at a meeting yesterday resolved that N500 should be paid on every trip with […]

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State and tipper owners in the state yesterday settled their rift over disagreement on the new tax regime introduced by the government, that every tipper lorry load of gravel or sand should attract N1,000.
Both parties at a meeting yesterday resolved that N500 should be paid on every trip with effect from January next year.
The development has caused the price of a load of sand to move from N12,000 to N14,500 while that of gravel rose from N25,000 to N28,000.
The meeting was convened by Director of State Security Service, Mr Duke Fubara, the Commissioner of Police, Mr.  Etop James and Chief Afe Babalola(SAN).
Fayose and tipper owners have been at loggerheads over the governor’s insistence that they should pay N1,000 per trip.
The crisis led to ban on excavation of sand in any part of the state.
Fayose, at the meeting said all tipper owners in the state must register their vehicles and acquire the new number, warning that whoever flouts the order would pay a fine of N50,000.
He said: “For the fact that I love you and that power belongs to the masses and with the intervention of our revered leader, Chief Babalola and security chiefs, I will accept this proposal. But my position has been that you must pay the sum of N1,000 per trip.
I want us to come to the reality that Ekiti is dire in need of money. N934 million is being deducted from our allocation monthly. No tipper will operate in Ekiti without proper registration. You need to be aware that any illegal operator will be seriously dealt with”.
The commissioner of police and Director of SSS in the state had warned the two parties about the security implication of their actions.
Fubara said: “the two parties should be aware of the security implication of this standoff. You just have to shift grounds”.
Babalola told the tipper owners to continue to support the government by paying their taxes.
“During the old Ondo State, I was rated the highest tax payer and I am still the best in Ekiti today. Ekiti needs money and we have to support Governor Fayose to make Ekiti work”, he said.