Lagos State government has introduced a daily ₦800 consolidated informal transport levy for transporters in the state, to commence February 1, 2022.
The levy is outside the union dues collected by the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), Nigeria Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) etc from the operators.
Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Dr Rabiu Olowo, who revealed this at the agreement-signing ceremony by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), local councils and transport unions, said it is a consolidated levy collection.
He stated that the harmonized levy became expedient to ensure that the transport sector in the state is organised and fits into a 21st-century economy.
Olowo added that the consolidated levy takes into consideration all the elements in a sane society.
According to him, the levy takes care of dues previously accrued to local councils across the state, as well as revenue for Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos State Inland Revenue Service (LIRS) among other MDAs.
He said that the state government expects that once a transporter pays the ₦800 at a point, he or she is expected not to pay at any other park or bus stop throughout the day.
He also said that the government expects that union members will not collect levies from transporters as they are not expected to pay at every bus stop or park.
Olowo said the consolidated levy would reduce the multiplicity of levies collection as many residents and transporters have complained about the huge levies unions often collected.
