The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has put on hold the enforcement of the Drivers and Riders Permit Levy to allow for further consultations with key stakeholders.

The directive was issued by the Mandate Secretary of the Transportation Secretariat, Dr. Chinedum Elechi, in a letter to the Managing Director of First Capital Cargo Ltd, the firm engaged to handle the levy’s collection.

In the correspondence sighted in Abuja on Monday, Elechi explained that the decision followed discussions held on February 19 with representatives of dispatch riders operating within the FCT.

“Following the meeting with the leaders of the Association of Dispatch Riders in the FCT, and the concerns of multiple taxation by various authorities raised during the meeting, you are by this letter directed to suspend the enforcement of collection of the Drivers and Riders Permit Levy, pending further engagement with all relevant stakeholders.

“Please ensure this directive is accorded the needed attention and compliance,” the mandate secretary said.

It would be recalled that on February 19, hundreds of dispatch riders converged on the FCTA Secretariat in Abuja to protest what they termed “multiple taxation.”

The riders appealed to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, seeking his intervention to halt what they described as unfair levies.

According to the protesters, they currently pay an annual fee of N13,000 to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), as well as to the Bwari and Gwagwalada Area Councils.

They argued that the newly introduced N25,000 permit levy by the FCT Transportation Secretariat adds to their financial burden.

They further stated that they also pay N300 each time they access markets within Abuja, which they said contributes to the issue of multiple taxation.