From David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi
Leadership of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers Association, Nnewi, Anambra State, has vowed to resist excessive government taxation, if both the federal and state authorities have no plans to reduce it.
The newly elected President of the association, Austin Jideofor, disclosed this at Nkwo Nnewi market, yesterday, after an election which returned him unopposed to serve for another tenure of four years.
Jideofor said both the federal and state governments had continued to make unfavourable policies that had affected the progress of the importers.
“Our major challenges are unfavourable government policies, especially by the state. They impose heavy taxation on us without any consideration as if we have committed any atrocity for being importers.
“We will continue to engage the government. It can’t be business as usual this time. The policies of Anambra State government against the importers are very disheartening.
“In Nnewi today, you have too many task-force operators working for government as revenue agents. When you go to your warehouse to drop goods, you pay tax, while bringing in the containers, you pay tax, in everything you do.This is too bad. Where does that happen?
“Some of the touts in the name of revenue agents come through the back doors to harass us thinking we are the illiterate traders of yesterday.
“Today, we are sound with intellectual capacity. With understanding and togetherness, we can move mountains,” Jideofor said.
He requested the Anambra State government should look into the system to correct what he described as unnecessary burden and harassment to the importers. He said all the agencies were on a journey to destroy good intentions of Governor Charles Soludo for the people.
He said a lot of touts had invaded Anambra State revenue collection in Nnewi and assured the importers would take drastic measures to stop them.
On piracy, Jideofor said the association was not sleeping over it, adding the war against piracy at Nkwo Nnewi had been intensive under his watch and would continue to increase in tempo.
“We are fighting piracy because if we don’t, we will sink. Everybody needs to protect his product and that’s the only way we can grow. We won’t allow any pirate to succeed as far as this administration is concerned,” he said.
He promised his administration in the second tenure would not relent in offering quality services and all-inclusive leadership.
He named some of the achievements of the association under his watch in the first tenure to include purchase and construction of a building that now belonged to the importers to stop hiring places for programmes, protection of members from intimidation and harassment in the course of doing their legitimate businesses.
In his statement, the Electoral Officer, Nzeakonobi Alphonsus, expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the election which he declared free, fair and credible.
Alphonsus said there were candidates for all other offices in the association during the election except the office of the president.
He said even though the floor was open in October for members to show expression of interest but none came out to challenge Jideofor who was eventually returned unopposed. He noted that it showed members were satisfied with his first tenure.
Others elected were the Vice President, Ekene Ebubedike; Secretary, Origbo Uchenna; Public Relations Officer, Ikenna Nwachi, among others.