B.R.E.A.K.I.N.G N.E.W.S THE WHOLE BANKS IN AWKA ANAMBRA STATE CAPITAL SET TO SHUT DOWN

The Anambra state government and all the Banks operating in its capital city, Awka is set for a serious showdown over over-taxation. The Banks are threatening to shutdown its operations in the metropolis should the government not rescind its decidion to impose on them what it termed ‘’City Bank Permit Operations License”.

According to a Bank Manager of one of the banks operating in the city, Mr Andrew, who spoke to our correspondent, The issue of over-taxtion of financial establishments and banks in the state has gone beyond keeping quiet. Since the incumbent government came into power, its been one payment after another. We pay for virtually every project undertaken in Awka by this administration. Even the current flyovers under construction in Awka is being financed by all the banks in Awka under what we term “Agreement consent under Duress”. What pains us the most is that the governor was once in our shoes and as a banker, we expect him to understand our plight and give us some level playing ground that will be beneficial to us as business operators.”



Asked what their next line of action will be if the Government goes ahead with its City Bank Permit Operations Licenses; Mr Andrew responded that all the commercial banks, MFBs, Mortgage homes and finance houses operating in the state’s capital city have reached an agreement to shut down its operations in the town to press down home its demands. We have seen enough. If we continue to keep mute and not speak out, we will die in business; the manager added.

Also, One of the managers of a micro-finance bank in a suburb of awka metropolis, Nice Micro-finance bank Nise also lamented that they might be thrown out of business if the imposition of tax continues. Not only that we pay our tax regularly to the state government as responsible corporate citizens, we are also impelled to cough out huge funds that goes to the local government purse; he said.