The Edo State Internal Revenue Service, EIRS, has banned the illegal collection of dues by unions at the designated points of collection for haulage fees.
Media Talk Africa reports that Oladele Bankole-Balogun, the Executive Chairman of the Revenue Service, announced the ban in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin.
Bankole-Balogun said security agencies have been informed of the illegal collection for appropriate enforcement.
According to him, “It has come to the notice of the Edo State Internal Revenue Service, EIRS, that certain unions have been illegally collecting their union dues and issuing tickets where not appropriate; this is unacceptable.”
“The Edo State Internal Revenue Service prohibits the collection of union dues at beats designated for haulage fee collection. This decision aims to streamline operations and enhance efficiency and transparency in the haulage space.
“The rationale behind the decision to separate the collection of union dues from haulage fee points (beats) is aimed at eliminating potential confusion and improving the efficiency of our operations.
“Only our Revenue Collectors are saddled with the responsibilities of collecting the haulage fees through the issuance of the Revenue scratch cards and ensuring that haulage fee points (beats) remain dedicated to their primary purpose, minimizing disruptions and ensuring smoother operations.
“Unions will need to adopt alternative methods for collecting dues from their members. The government is committed to working with the unions to make sure that there is peace and orderliness in our great state (Edo State).
“Haulage fee beats are to exclusively handle the collection of haulage fees, promoting greater efficiency and focus in their operations without the added task of union dues collection,” he said.
