Islanders Magazine

OSHODI MARKETERS LAMENT OVER LOCAL GOVERNEMENT FEE INCREMENT FROM 9,000 TO 100,000

SHOPS NOW SEALED FOR NON PAYMENT

 

This isn’t the best of time for the Marketers in Oshodi as the increment in Local Government tax seems to be taking its toll on them. Tongues seem to be wagging on the reasons why the local government of Oshodi-Isolo local Council Development (LCDA) decided to increase the local tax from #9,000 to #120,000 per annum. It was gathered that the Chairman of the council, Hon. Bolaji Ariyo gave the directive that the local council tax fee should be increased to 120,000 Naira from 9,000 Naira which was the initial payment. Early this year the decision was to increase the tax fee most of the shop owner (marketers) felt it was just hear say until two months ago when the tax collectors started coming to the market to enforce the new tax fee law. In lieu of this the market leaders went to Alausa and some of ACN leaders to plead on their behalf to the Chairman so as to revert his ungodly decision. After some consultation the chairman revert the fee to 100,000 and said nothing will change that amount. But the market leaders were optimistic and they continued to plead and persuading some stakeholders in the state to plead on the behalf. While on their pleas to the Local Council authority information reaching us hints that the council officers have started locking up shops that are indebted in the area. Sources hints that the chairman who lives in Lekki was even the one who increased the money from 4,500 to 9,000 and now to 100,000. Some of the marketers who spoke with us said “how can they pay 100,000 annually to local government aside other bills  as  shop owners and how much are they  making per annum that this is just total wickedness and heartlessness. All effort to reach the local government proved futile as the secretary to the local council didn’t reply our text message.  It would be recalled that it was this same chairman’s thugs that allegedly beat up popular actor, Ayo Badmus for not greeting him.

It’s true that I was beaten and almost killed by the thugs guarding the Chairman of Oshodi L.G.A. My wife, my brother and I went to pay a courtesy visit to my boss, Tunde Kelani on Sallah day. When we got there, I went round to greet people and when I got to where the Oshodi L.G.A Chairman sat, I wanted to shake him when his brother said I ought to have prostrated. I didn’t reply him even when he started insulting me, saying actors are stupid and useless. As I made to leave suddenly, I saw a group of thugs, numbering up to twenty pounced on me and started beating me up.

They broke bottles on my head, kicked me and almost killed me if not for my wife, brother and other people who came to my rescue. I’ve done a lot for the Lagos State Government even without being paid. Why should I then be treated in such a manner like a criminal? What the Chairman of Oshodi Local Government and his brother did was wrong. They are public servants and should be polite. I never met them before in my life. Neither did I involve myself in any kind of politics. That day was the first time, I set my eyes on them. They probably felt intimidated by my presence and the way people around hailed me.