The Enugu State Government has announced the immediate and indefinite suspension of daily toll revenue collection from petty traders operating without lockup shops across markets in the state, in a major pro-poor policy aimed at easing economic hardship.
Governor gave the directive on Tuesday during the high-level stakeholders’ meeting on the clarification and harmonisation of revenue collection in markets, held at the Old Government Lodge, Enugu, and organised by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service.
Represented by the Secretary to the State Government, , the governor declared that the collection of ₦100 and ₦200 daily tolls from traders in open spaces is now illegal, stressing that the move aligns with the state’s new tax reforms designed to support the poor and vulnerable.
Describing the affected group as “vulnerable traders,” the government emphasized that it would no longer tolerate exploitative practices that worsen the living conditions of citizens struggling at the grassroots level.
To ensure strict enforcement, the governor constituted a high-powered taskforce chaired by the SSG, with membership drawn from Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, and market leadership. The committee is mandated to oversee full compliance across the state.
In a firm warning, the government stated that anyone found collecting such tolls—whether on behalf of the government or as individuals—will face the full weight of the law.
Governor Mbah also directed Local Government Chairmen, traditional rulers, Presidents-General, and market leaders to promptly report any violations to the taskforce, reinforcing a collective responsibility for enforcement.
He, however, clarified that the directive does not affect traders operating in lockup shops, who are required to pay annual dues ranging between ₦30,000 and ₦36,000, noting that the government remains committed to a fair and structured revenue system without inflicting hardship on the people.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Enugu State, , assured that council chairmen would ensure effective implementation of the directive in their respective local government areas.
Also lending their voices, the Chairman of the Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, , alongside other traditional leaders and market union representatives, praised the governor’s intervention, describing it as timely, empathetic, and a bold step toward protecting petty traders.
The decision marks a significant outcome of the state’s ongoing revenue harmonisation efforts and underscores the Mbah administration’s resolve to balance revenue generation with social protection, particularly for low-income earners.
