…A case of unchecked excesses, power abuse
By Godwin-Maria Utuedoye
The British historian, Lord Acton in 1887 came with the maxim, ” “Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” It is on this premise that I want to challenged the Ughelli North Local Government Area Chairman, Jaro Egbo, to caution some of his revenue agents, the local vigilantes and constantly check on their excesses on residents through the feedback mechanisms .
It is good to generate revenues, but major factors must also be considered why embarking on such drive. First, every government should endeavor to critically look at the impact of such revenue on the council and its residents. Then again there should be proper enlightenment and education both to the foot soldiers (revenue collectors) and the target public or residents. This must carefully be looked into, and again, the issue if double taxation should be carefully looked into before permitting or awarding or constituting different revenue committees.
Findings so far revealed that a larger percent of those engaged for the revenue drive in Ughelli North are mostly touts and thugs who were allegedly compensated for the role they played in one election or the other. They are easily provoked, not cultured, no manners and lacked abysmal mode of approach. They believe they had all the rights and can easily intimidate their victim because the most a time move in group and in a commando style.
Investigations has revealed that, revenue collectors and vigilantes in Ughelli North have been accused severally of power abuse and also committing unchecked excesses in their supposed duties. First, there are no fixed levies by the council as those in charge could inflates rate at will depending on their victim.
Individuals responsible for the collection of this revenues and enforcing same in the council, are now using their positions to extort money from residents, harass individuals, and engage in corrupt practices.They misuse their authority to exploit residents for more than what is legally required.
Many residents, market women, truck pushers, and many others have reported instances of being forcefully levied by these revenue collectors including the local vigilantes. Most a time, the levies imposed are often arbitrary and exorbitant, leading to financial strain on the residents, especially the poor and vulnerable.
Both revenue collectors and vigilantes have been severally accused of using excessive force and intimidation tactics in trying to enforce demands. There have been reports of physical assaults and harassment by these individuals, creating a climate of impunity, fear and distrust amongst residents. At the different markets, cases of intimidation and excessive use of force have often been reported.
These agents of the local government often alleged that they have paid the council chairman huge sum running into millions of naira, hence they have all the rights to at all cost not considering the legality of their actions and the damming consequence, but forcefully and through all means extort residents or their victims in the guise of revenue collections.
There was a case of such revenue collector that claimed to be the chairman in charge of building permit. He came to a suburb town to the Ughelli North Council with suspected touts in a commando style demanding a hundred thousand naira for a three bedroom apartment as building permit. With the aides of his boys, they chased workers from the site and forcefully stopped the work until he was paid. He alleged that the contract was sold to him for about Three million, five hundred thousand naira. He even boasted that the local government chairman should be called and nothing will happen. They came to a negotiation table after much harassment and intimidation, and a certain amount was paid to him. Whereas, the community youths had also levied the developer and forcefully impose a certain arbitrary amount on him for foundation digging even when the state government have band ‘deve’ collection. This is seen as double taxation or collection of revenue.
The unchecked excesses of these revenue collectors and security levies by vigilantes in Ughelli metropolis and environs must urgently be addressed to ensure the protection and well-being of the residents and to encourage those plying their businesses in Ughelli and environs. The authorities must hold individuals accountable for their actions and implement stricter oversight mechanisms to prevent future abuses of power.
Vigilantes in the guise of security levies also harass, intimidate and molest residents monthly with gross impunity. A PoS operator was harassed, intimidated and arrested by vigilantes the around Upper Agbarho street because she couldn’t meet up with a Ten Thousand naira security levy. Her umbrella, tables and PoS was packed by the vigilantes with a threat that once taken to their Secretariat, she will double the amount and as well, bail herself. Also, PoS operator at the Post Junction was faced with similar experience sometime ago. This promoted a journalist to put a call across to the President General of Ughelli Descendent Union, Olorogun Akpimegi to clarify if he did instructed the vigilantes to collect such levies, but he said, since they are not paid salaries, they at the Kingdom level decided to appeal to all lock up stores/shop owners to contribute the sum of (N5,000) yearly to augment for their fuel and repairs of vehicles. But they have ignored the directives and took laws into hands.
Not too long ago, vigilantes came to a store violently and forcefully entered the store to carry items in the place of security levies. The intimidation and impunity is something that must be checked holistically.
Residents are appealing for a thorough investigation into the practices of the revenue collectors and vigilantes, as well as for the implementation of measures to ensure transparency and accountability in their operations.
Just few days ago, around the Ekrejebo areas, vigilantes went on rampage in the guise of collecting security levies. They bursted into a shop in a violent manner and in the process smashed an iPhone of the shop owner. Their action attracted neighbors, and sensing danger coming, they escaped but leaving one of them behind who was later held to pay for the destroyed phone. Also at Ekuigbo community, revenue collectors in charge of extension storm a PoS/phone charging store deep inside one of the street. They harassed the owner because he questioned the legality of the amount charged, and also asked why community leaders should be involved in local government matters. The money was forcefully collected from him.
There are lots of cases of exorbitant levies collected through intimidation, forceful extortion and abuse of power.
It is therefore essential to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens and residents from such abuses. It should be noted too that the absence of oversight mechanisms by the council authority has empowered these individuals to operate without fear of repercussions. They are undermining the effects of their actions on local businesses and residents, including financial strain and potential violence.
It is however accepted that no society grow without revenues, but it should also be known that multiple taxation could discourage potential investors from coming to invesr. A top business man in Ughelli that deals on communication gadgets, electronics and household recently during an interview did say, that double taxation and revenue collectors of all kinds is affecting the business community in Ughelli.
Its appalling to compel a recharge card seller or a PoS operator using his or her own table, umbrella and in the front of his or her compound to pay the sum of Ten Thousand naira either monthly or yearly to different group of revenue collectors or vigilantes. Even if they should pay, first it shouldn’t be outrageous and secondly, it shouldn’t be collected with intimidation and harassment or in a multiple ways, then it should go to known government accounts.
Its also worthy to appeal to the council chairman to often carry out a background check on those he will award contracts of revenue collection. Are they humane? Are they responsible? Are they transparent? Their do’s and don’t s should be spelled out to them and the public and they should know their limits as well. Citizens and residents should not be used sacrificial lambs in favour of political allies and to the public detriments.