THE Edo State Government has officially banned the activities of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), and other related groups due to widespread illegal revenue collection across the state.
According to a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Umar Ikhilor, today, the ban was prompted by the resurgence of unlawful levies and extortion carried out under various pretenses.
The government noted that some groups previously authorized to collaborate with the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) had violated their terms of engagement by engaging in cash collections, harassment, and intimidation of road users.
Effective immediately, the activities of NURTW, RTEAN, ANNEWAT, and Drivers on Wheel are prohibited.
These unions are no longer permitted to collect any form of tax, levy, or charge from motorists, traders, or any member of the public.
The ban also extends to a private consultant earlier contracted to enforce compliance.
The government stated that credible reports had implicated the firm in widespread abuse, extortion, and betrayal of public trust.
“These actions constitute economic sabotage and a threat to public order,” the statement read. “The era of using unions as a cover to intimidate and extort residents in the name of revenue collection is over.”
The state urged drivers and all road users to avoid making any cash payments to individuals or groups representing these banned unions.
It encouraged the public to report such incidents to the Edo State Special Task Force.
Additionally, the Commissioner of Police and other security agencies have been instructed to arrest and prosecute anyone found violating this directive.
Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sanitizing the revenue system and protecting citizens from exploitation.
He warned that anyone involved in such illegal practices would face the full weight of the law.