The Anambra state
government and all the Banks operating in its capital city, Awka is set for a
serious showdown over over-taxation. The Banks are threatening to shutdown its
operations in the metropolis should the government not rescind its decidion to
impose on them what it termed ‘’City Bank Permit Operations License”.
According to a Bank Manager of one of the banks operating in
the city, Mr Andrew, who spoke to our correspondent, The issue of over-taxtion
of financial establishments and banks in the state has gone beyond keeping
quiet. Since the incumbent government came into power, its been one payment
after another. We pay for virtually every project undertaken in Awka by this
administration. Even the current flyovers under construction in Awka is being
financed by all the banks in Awka under what we term “Agreement consent under
Duress”. What pains us the most is that the governor was once in our shoes and as
a banker, we expect him to understand our plight and give us some level playing
ground that will be beneficial to us as business operators.”
Asked what their next line of action will be if the Government goes ahead with its City Bank Permit Operations Licenses; Mr Andrew responded that all the commercial banks,
MFBs, Mortgage homes and finance houses operating in the state’s capital city
have reached an agreement to shut down its operations in the town to press down
home its demands. We have seen enough. If we continue to keep mute and not
speak out, we will die in business; the manager added.
Also, One of the managers of a micro-finance bank in a suburb of awka metropolis, Nice Micro-finance bank Nise also lamented that they
might be thrown out of business if the imposition of tax continues. Not only
that we pay our tax regularly to the state government as responsible corporate
citizens, we are also impelled to cough out huge funds that goes to the local government purse.
Coincidentally, the Chairman of the local government council
(Awka south Local Government) where this bank does its business is the son to the
chairman of the bank, HRH Ugochimalueze Iloh.
If the threat by the bank operators is carried out, it will
cripple the commercial activities of the town and Anambra at large. It will
also affect the students of the tertiary institutions in the city especially the
students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) Awka. When a
DNB correspondent spoke to a final year student of UNIZIK, he retorted that the government should resolve whatever feud it has with the bank operators as
shutting down bank activities will greatly affect the students and some might
even resort to crimes so as to get money to feed.” Abeg make e no be true o”,
the student also said.
Awka is a booming commercial city in the state. It is seen
as the third largest town in the state after Onitsha and Nnewi and also
recently ranked as the fastest growing commercial hub in the state. The State commissioner of Commerce and the
Governor’s special Advisers on commerce and economic activities declined to
comment on the matter when our correspondent called to confirm the veracity of
the claims.
