We generate over N61billions yearly to Anambra government-- drivers

Titus Maduako Eleweke

Transport Company of Anambra State ( TRACAS) Drivers have stated that they remit over N61 billions to the company every year and yet the management continue to maltreat them.
The Vice President of High way TRACAS Drivers, Mr. Okwudiri Felix Okonkwo stated this on Friday at a peaceful protest against the company's management extortion,ill treatment against them to government House Agu Awka.


According to him,the purpose of the protest was to bring to the attention of governor Charles Soludo the ill treatment being mated on them by the management of TRACAS.

He said every driver who ply Lagos and Abuja highways, pays N15,000 per loading and if they made over 10 trips to Lagos and Abuja a month,that 20 loading.
"If you make a five trips to and from a month ,you are to pay N300,000 every month . Calculate N300,0000 into 1700 vehicles N5,000,000,100 and tax it by 12 months it is N61,000,000,000. This does include the local vehicles.
We don't know why the management want to stifle us with multiple levies. We are doing the protest to get the attention of the governor to the bad treatment being mated to us management of TRACAS despite our contribution to Company" he said.
According to him, despite all the money they pay on every trip the company does have any park of its throughout federation.

He said that recently,the management of TRACAS ordered that they pay N45,000 to fix trackers to their private vehicles cars to monitor their activities.

"We accepted to have trackers in our vehicles but they must pay for the fixing and give us a written agreement that if anything happens to our motors they will pay ,but they refuse. At a stage Chairman ,Anambra State House committee on transport intervened and just after three days ,they asked for enforcement.
They stop us on highway and collect N85,000 for the trackers and renewal permit as a fine. We are crying to the governor to intervene and save us from TRACAS intimation,harrassment and extortion. We are in support of the governor but the management of TRACAS is sabotaging our efforts' he lamented .
The Secretary to TRACAS Drivers, Benjamin Ogbonnaya ,said that management is not treating them fairly as partner in the business and appealed to Soludo to come for their rescue.

"The current management of TRACAS is not doing well. In 2019 they forced us to pay N29,000 for speed limit till today they have not install any and they want to force us again to pay N45,000. We are not against the tracking devices but they must pay for them and signed agreement that anything that happen to our vehicles in highway, they must take the full responsibilities" he said.
Addressing the protesting TRACAS drivers, Secretary to the State government,Prof Solo Chukwululobe commended them for the peaceful conduct and promised to relay their complaints to the governor.
He assured that within a week they will hear from the governor.
He also promises to speak to the management of TRACAS to step down the enforcement pending the resolution of the crisis.
Mean while managing director of tracas Mr Chike Obiakor said they have the choice to obey the policy of the company or leave,though, he is not asking them to leave
According to him, the drivers normal load their vehicles Caption

Secretary to government Prof Solo vhukeulobe addressing protesting tracas drivers at government house Agu Awka on Friday without coming to TRACAS parks to pay their loading fee.
He said that his record are clear and open for any audit.
"We are trying to install trackers to monitor their movement because they are not paying their loading fees in out parks. We have even stationed dome people on highway to check if they pay at parks and we are paying heavily for that their actions" he said.