ONITSHA — Market women in Eke Awka market in the Anambra State capital, yesterday, took to the streets in protest against imposition of tax on them by the state government.

The protesters who later marched to the state House of Assembly said they were asked to pay a minimum tax of N3,000 each, a development that did not go down well with them.

Some of the women who spoke to Vanguard said there was nothing to justify the imposition of tax on market women as it was the same reason that sparked off the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot. The women said the tolls and other market tickets given to them were enough.

Consequently, the Anambra State government made good its threat to shut down markets and commercial outfits in the state over non payment of the new tax, with Eke Awka main market as the first casualty.

Traders who came to the market as early as 7am were surprised to find police and other security agents barricading the gate to the market and also refusing anyone entry, claiming to be acting on the order of the state government.

At 8:30 am when all the traders including consumers have all arrived the market, trouble started, with some of the traders mobilizing themselves to Arthur Eze Avenue, the road leading to the market and barricading it, denying motorists the right of passage.

It was, however, learnt that the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Robert Okonkwo, who addressed traders in the market said only women who owned shops in the market were expected to pay the tax, adding that hawkers, roadside traders and others were exempted from paying the tax.

Meantime, it was gathered that the market women are planning to protest naked to the Government House, Awka as a way to attracting government attention to their plight.

An executive member of Eke Awka Market Women Association who begged for anonymity told Vanguard that the government has made good their threat of taxing women by locking Eke Awka main market over refusal to pay the sum of N3,000.

The source said the women were planning to embark on the protest if government refused to back down on the raid of their shops.

The Public Relations Officer of Awka South Market Amalgamated Traders Union, ASMATU, an umbrella body that oversees markets in Awka metropolis, Comrade Obi Ochije has backed the planned naked protest of the women if only to stop government from taxing women in the state

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/06/awka-market-women-protest-tax-imposition/

I want to understand the taxation system employed here. Are traders dealing on crayfish and vegetables expected to pay N3,000 as well? Having a shop does not mean that you should pay the same amount of money with someone who deals on more expensive items and makes more money than you do. The government should have a rethink and apply common sense when it comes to matters of this nature.

When women go on protest, it means something serious made them do so. I don't wanna see bra - less women protesting on streets.

gbanikiti: When women go on protest, it means something serious made them do so. I don't wanna see bra - less women protesting on streets.

old mama's brea.st wey don sag finish some go dey like slippers self. If to say na young gals go protest bra-less, e for sweet to watch joor. Anyam achoghi ihu aru o.

AWKA MUST BE AN ACN CONTROLLED VICINITY!!!

Ok, lemme try to be a little bigot here, the same way an average bigotted igbo man will respond to this article if it were in Lagos:

"Awka oni baje oooo

"What kind of leader feed on his poor masses? If these people are okay, they won't be going to the market tryin to buy and sell! In a more developed country, the govt wld av given them shops for free and even pay them transport allowance to and fro everyday!

"And some people will start praising them here on the net as if he was the only performing govnr! Keep suffering in silence. We all knw wot u are going tru!"

"I trust my govnrs in the people's republic of biafra. Make we split self"

On a more deadly note:

What are my people still doing in Lagos? They shld come home to develop it

Now, as e be so, where una go run to?

This is Fashola's fault. He started the victimization of Ibos, now Peter AdaObi is towing the same line. Ibos must show Fashola that they cannot be intimidated. The more Fashola hates and envies them, the more they succeed. If not for Ibos Lagos and the South-West would be one big jungle....

SLIDE waxie: AWKA MUST BE AN ACN CONTROLLED VICINITY!!!

Ok, lemme try to be a little bigot here, the same way an average bigotted igbo man will respond to this article if it were in Lagos:

"Awka oni baje oooo

"What kind of leader feed on his poor masses? If these people are okay, they won't be going to the market tryin to buy and sell! In a more developed country, the govt wld av given them shops for free and even pay them transport allowance to and fro everyday!

"And some people will start praising them here on the net as if he was the only performing govnr! Keep suffering in silence. We all knw wot u are going tru!"

"I trust my govnrs in the people's republic of biafra. Make we split self"

On a more deadly note:

What are my people still doing in Lagos? They shld come home to develop it

Now, as e be so, where una go run to?

I don't know if your joke is funny but you try sha.

SLIDE waxie: AWKA MUST BE AN ACN CONTROLLED VICINITY!!!

Ok, lemme try to be a bigot here,D

you called youself a bigot! Remember that once a bigot is forever a bigot.

Now I know better....Tax avoidance and hating anything Taxation is in the genes

ilugunboy: Now I know better....Tax avoidance and hating anything Taxation is in the genes

No it's not! it's a general thing so don't try the blame game.

Bawo ni bobo to dun?

gbanikiti: No it's not! it's a general thing so don't try the blame game.

Bawo ni bobo to dun?

heheeheeeeeeehee....I just dey reminiscence over the old Aba women riot and situating it with this modern age riot...

You send the PM? Seen the alert but not yet in my inbox...

gbanikiti: I don't know if your joke is funny but you try sha.

o shey. At least e no dry reach d last one. Mo wet e

ilugunboy:

heheeheeeeeeehee....I just dey reminiscence over the old Aba women riot and situating it with this modern age riot...

You send the PM? Seen the alert but not yet in my inbox...

yes i sent the PM. maybe you should check your spam box. sometimes yahoo could be naughty.

SLIDE waxie: o shey. At least e no dry reach d last one. Mo wet e

lol! iwo omode yi, o gbadun rara!

The money is for those that will help them Rig the upcoming election.

no oil money in the state so they should help thier govt to generate revenue now

ilugunboy:

heheeheeeeeeehee....I just dey reminiscence over the old Aba women riot and situating it with this modern age riot...

You send the PM? Seen the alert but not yet in my inbox...

Stop chyking my sister, you this boy...

SLIDE waxie: AWKA MUST BE AN ACN CONTROLLED VICINITY!!!

Ok, lemme try to be a little bigot here, the same way an average bigotted igbo man will respond to this article if it were in Lagos:

"Awka oni baje oooo

"What kind of leader feed on his poor masses? If these people are okay, they won't be going to the market tryin to buy and sell! In a more developed country, the govt wld av given them shops for free and even pay them transport allowance to and fro everyday!

"And some people will start praising them here on the net as if he was the only performing govnr! Keep suffering in silence. We all knw wot u are going tru!"

"I trust my govnrs in the people's republic of biafra. Make we split self"

On a more deadly note:

What are my people still doing in Lagos? They shld come home to develop it

Now, as e be so, where una go run to?

One word; senseless!

na only dem sabi protest

Policewoman: Stop chyking my sister, you this boy...

Make he dey Chyke you instead?

Seun dreamt of Anambra state last night

dayokanu:

Make he dey Chyke you instead?

Him wan chyke him grandmama?

dedons: na only dem sabi protest

dunlop close ur mouth if u hv notin to talk

Policewoman: Him wan chyke him grandmama?

iji kwa ahu? onye ka i na akpo grandmama?

Awka oni baje oooo!

Obi is punishing the poor!

Abeg make dis women no go unclad,cos somehow some younger women who still dey sharp would be involved. Let them help our men, abeg oooo

Am just passing over, coming from ghana, heading to cameroon, waoooooo am i in nigeria? Ohhhh the people are confused, i have an advice for you people, kill all your leaders, both the present and formal ones, they are there corrupting the new generations with their old time wickedness

In my state, Akwa Ibom, there is riot by the students.
In Awka here, women are also rioting. Whats happening! Where do i go from here...

SlyIg: In my state, Akwa Ibom, there is riot by the students.
In Awka here, women are also rioting. Whats happening! Where do i go from here...

Go to Bauchi.

Policewoman: Stop chyking my sister, you this boy...

dayokanu:

Make he dey Chyke you instead?

I go chop all the Egunje she dey collect...