The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has suspended the enforcement of the Drivers and Riders Permit Levy, pending further consultations with relevant stakeholders.
The directive was issued by the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transportation Secretariat, Dr Chinedum Elechi, in a letter addressed to First Capital Cargo Ltd, the firm contracted to collect the levy.
According to the letter dated February 19 and obtained in Abuja on Monday, the decision followed a meeting with leaders of the Association of Dispatch Riders in the FCT, during which concerns over alleged multiple taxation were raised.
Elechi directed the company to halt the levy collection until further engagement with stakeholders is concluded.
“Following the meeting with the leaders of the Association of Dispatch Riders in the FCT, and the concerns of multiple taxation raised during the meeting, you are hereby directed to suspend the enforcement of collection of the Drivers and Riders Permit Levy, pending further consultations with all relevant stakeholders,” the letter stated.
“Please ensure that this directive is accorded the necessary attention and strict compliance,” it added.
The suspension comes after thousands of dispatch riders on February 19 staged a protest at the FCT Administration Secretariat in Abuja, alleging that they were subjected to excessive and overlapping levies by multiple authorities.
The riders appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to intervene and halt what they described as extortionary practices.
They claimed they were already paying an annual levy of N13,000 to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Bwari Area Council, and Gwagwalada Area Council, in addition to the newly introduced N25,000 permit levy by the Transportation Secretariat.
The riders further alleged that they also pay N300 each time they enter markets within the capital, which they argued amounted to multiple taxation and placed an undue financial burden on their operations.
