By Idowu Adebomi
Traders and other residents of Ado-Ekiti on Thursday staged a peaceful protest at the Oja Oba Market, calling on the Ekiti State Government to reduce taxes and levies imposed on businesses.
The protesters, who converged on the popular market while chanting solidarity songs and displaying their grievances, said the increasing tax burden had become unbearable, making it difficult for them to sustain their businesses and meet their daily financial obligations.
According to the demonstrators, the high cost of taxes and multiple levies has significantly reduced their earnings, with many traders struggling to make reasonable profits. They warned that if the situation persists, several business owners may be forced to shut down their operations.
Some of the traders lamented that the growing financial pressure has eroded their capital, leaving them with little or nothing to reinvest in their businesses.
The protesters appealed to the Ekiti State Government to review the existing tax regime and engage market leaders, traders’ associations, and other relevant stakeholders in constructive dialogue aimed at developing a fair and sustainable taxation framework that will support businesses while promoting economic growth in the state.If you intend to publish this as a balanced news report, you may also wish to include the Ekiti State Government’s response or comment for fairness and adherence to journalistic standards.