Commercial transport unions in Enugu State have threatened to shut down transport operations across the state over a new government policy on the collection of union dues and terminal charges.

The dispute involves major transport bodies, including the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria, which collectively represent tens of thousands of commercial vehicle operators in the state.

The disagreement followed a directive by the Enugu State Internal Revenue Service (ESIRS) for the state government to take over the collection of terminal commissions and remit 15 per cent of the proceeds to the unions.

The unions rejected the arrangement, arguing that the dues were used to maintain their branch offices, support injured members and fund their daily operations.

Speaking on behalf of the operators ahead of a scheduled meeting with government officials, an NURTW member, Agbo Celestine, warned that drivers could halt transport services across the state if the government failed to reverse the policy.

He said transport unions were governed by national regulations and should not have their internal financial operations controlled by the state government.

Another union representative, Chisom Njoku, also criticised the policy, saying the unions were responsible for purchasing, maintaining and loading vehicles without financial assistance from the state.

He said operators already paid various government charges through the e-ticketing system, ranging from N750 for tricycles to N4,500 for heavy trailers, in addition to fees for digital manifests and emblem tags.

The state government, however, said the new policy was aimed at eliminating illegal collections and reducing multiple taxation imposed on residents and transport operators.

Under the new directives, toll collections from tricycles and intra-city buses operating within Enugu were stopped from October 1, while interstate departures were reviewed to the equivalent cost of one passenger seat per exit.

The government also banned all non-state revenue collections at motor terminals, prohibiting unions, associations and individuals from collecting unapproved levies.

ESIRS Chairman, Emmanuel Nnamani, defended the policy, accusing some unions of imposing excessive charges on commercial vehicle operators and saying the government would not tolerate illegal multiple taxation.

He said the government already paid unions commissions under existing arrangements, including N100 from every e-ticket, 12 per cent as ticket agents and 70 per cent of enforcement default-ticket proceeds.

Nnamani questioned the justification for additional charges allegedly imposed by unions on vehicles at terminals, saying such practices amounted to excessive financial burdens on operators.

With the unions and government maintaining opposing positions, commuters across Enugu face the possibility of disruptions to public transportation if negotiations fail to resolve the dispute.