Court restrains AKSG from collecting levies from Commercial, truck drivers

High court eight sitting in Uyo has restrained Akwa Ibom government from  collecting and charging Parking permit levies and other park fees from commercial drivers and truck owners in the state.

The court was ruling on the case brought before it by drivers and vehicle owners seeking to restrain the state government from imposing a parking levy on them.

Truck Drivers  under the umbrella  of Haulage Transporter Drivers’  Association, Ibom Truck Drivers and Owners Association of Nigerian, Akwa Ibom state chapter and National Association of Road Transport Owners, Akwa Ibom state Chapter had  in February this year dragged the state government to court over the introduction of parking  permit levy imposed on them by state ministry of transport.

In his ruling on Thursday, the presiding Judge, Justice Pius Idiong granted all the prayers of the Claimers saying that the state government has no right to collect parking levies from the drivers.

Justice Idiong said that it was exclusive right of the local governments to regulate activities of motor parks, charge and collect parking permit levies and other parking taxies from commercial drivers and not the state government.

Justice maintained that collection of such fees and levies from the drivers would amount to double taxies, which according to him was against the provisions of the law.

The Judge also granted an order for the state government to pay the sum N500,000 as compensation to the drivers for pains inflicted on them while collecting the levies.

 Reacting to the ruling, the Counsel to the applicants Mr. Emmanuel Edet maintained that the ruling would stand the test of time and appealed to the truck drivers to be law abiding.    

                            
On his part, the President of the Ibom Truck Drivers and Owners Association of Nigeria,  Akwa Ibom state chapter, Mr. Etteobong Udom commended the ruling, insisting that it would go a long way to restore sanity in the sector.

Others in the separate reactions thanked God that their rights have been restored.
 Our Correspondent reports that the court had earlier in April this year granted an order ex-parte restraining the Ministry of Transport from collecting and charging Parking permit levy from commercial drivers and truck owners