The Federal Capital Territory Administration has temporarily suspended the enforcement of its Drivers and Riders Permit Levy, pending further discussions with stakeholders.
The directive was issued by the FCTA Transportation Secretariat’s Mandate Secretary, Dr Chinedum Elechi, in a letter addressed to the Managing Director of First Capital Cargo Ltd, the company contracted to collect the levy.
According to Elechi, the decision followed a meeting held on February 19 with leaders of the Association of Dispatch Riders in the FCT, who raised concerns over multiple taxation.
“Following the meeting with the leaders of the Association of Dispatch Riders in the FCT, and the concerns of multiple taxation by various authorities, you are by this letter directed to suspend the enforcement of collection of the Drivers and Riders Permit Levy, pending further engagement with all relevant stakeholders,” Elechi stated in the letter.
“Please ensure this directive is accorded the needed attention and compliance.”
The suspension comes after thousands of dispatch riders protested at the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja, demanding intervention from the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to halt what they described as excessive levies.
The riders complained that they were already paying an annual N13,000 levy to area councils including Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari, and Gwagwalada, in addition to the newly introduced N25,000 permit levy by the FCTA Transportation Secretariat. They also cited N300 fees paid each time they enter markets in the city, highlighting what they called “multiple taxation.”
The FCTA said it will engage further with the dispatch riders and other stakeholders to address their concerns before resuming the collection of the permit levy.
