By Fadlillah Abdallah
Traders in Sabon Gari Main Market, Zaria in Kaduna state have rejected revenue collection by revenue officers without the issuance of receipts evidencing payment.
The traders accused the officers of collecting taxes without any proof of payment.
The traders were issued a Point of Sales (POS) slip which bears the name of one Ibrahim Hassan instead of the company’s account.
A trader, Sharif Abdulrasheed said the officials had pegged the annual revenue for each shop at N20,000.
Another trader, who simply identified himself as Okey said they were not sure of the identities of the officials.
A shop owner, Buhari Inda Maye, said his shop was locked because he insisted on a receipt.
“I refused to pay because there was no circular issued to us to commence payment on hand to hand basis and without any receipt. I am very suspicious of the POS slip they give us after collecting our money, that is why I insisted on a receipt,” he explained.
Speaking via telephone, Ibrahim Mai Gold, the Chairman of Sabon Gari Market Development Association, explained that there were dedicated bank accounts for the payment of all revenue, yet some officers decided to come in person to collect the levy hand to hand.
He said the association had written the Kaduna State Market Development and Management Company on the issue but there had been no response.
But, when contacted via mobile phone, the Facility Manager, Kaduna State Market Development and Management Company, Ola Samuel Kehinde denied knowledge of the allegations and pledged to report the matter to the management of the company for prompt action.
