Enugu State Governor, Dr. Peter Mbah, has announced the indefinite suspension of daily toll revenue collection imposed on petty traders without lock-up shops across the state, in a sweeping reform aimed at easing economic pressure on vulnerable market operators.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The announcement was made on Tuesday during a stakeholders’ meeting on the clarification and harmonisation of market revenue collection, organised by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service and held at the Old Government Lodge.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Chidiebere Onyia, Governor Mbah described petty traders as vulnerable citizens whose daily livelihood should not be subjected to multiple layers of taxation. He stated that the policy aligns with the state government’s ongoing tax reforms designed to protect low-income earners and streamline revenue administration.
According to the governor, the collection of daily levies ranging from ₦100 to ₦200 from traders without lock-up shops is hereby declared illegal with immediate effect. He further warned that anyone found collecting such levies—whether on behalf of government or in a private capacity—will face strict legal consequences.
To enforce compliance, the government has constituted a special task force chaired by the Secretary to the State Government. The team is mandated to monitor markets across the state and ensure full adherence to the directive.
Governor Mbah, however, clarified that the suspension does not affect traders operating in lock-up shops, who continue to pay annual levies estimated between ₦30,000 and ₦36,000 under the existing revenue structure.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to reducing hardship and promoting inclusive economic policies, the governor stressed that no government policy should worsen the living conditions of citizens, especially small-scale traders struggling to sustain their daily businesses.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Enugu State, Okechukwu Edeh, pledged the full cooperation of local government councils in enforcing the new directive across all markets in the state.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, Samuel Asadu, alongside several market leaders, commended the governor’s decision, describing it as a bold, compassionate, and people-oriented reform that would significantly reduce financial stress on petty traders.