Edo Government Bans NURTW, RTEAN Over Illegal Revenue Collection

The Edo State Government has officially banned the operations of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) across the state due to their involvement in illegal revenue collection and harassment of citizens. This decision follows months of widespread complaints from motorists, traders, and commercial drivers who accused members of the transport unions of extortion and unlawful levies in motor parks and along major transport routes. The ban also aligns with ongoing state efforts to sanitize its revenue system and enforce transparency in public finance. According to a statement from the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), the activities of NURTW, RTEAN, and similar groups are no longer recognised for any form of revenue collection. Only licensed agents working directly under the authority of the EIRS are permitted to collect taxes and levies in Edo State, and such collections must be made through official channels, including EIRS-issued haulage scratch cards. EIRS Chairman Oladele Bankole-Balogun said the move became necessary to protect businesses and residents from exploitation and ensure that all government revenues are properly accounted for. He added that security agencies and officially designated enforcement partners have been directed to arrest and prosecute anyone found collecting illegal dues or operating outside government guidelines. The state government has also suspended all third-party consultants and informal agents previously involved in revenue activities not directly supervised by the EIRS. The crackdown, which began in late 2024, has intensified through 2025 as part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s broader economic reforms to reduce corruption and boost internally generated revenue. In support of the enforcement efforts, a new compliance team was unveiled earlier in the year, in partnership with Atalakpa Recovery Concept Ltd. The initiative has already yielded results, with Edo State recording ₦52.6 billion in internally generated revenue in the first half of 2025 alone—an 89 percent performance against the half-year target. Residents and transport operators are being urged to report any unauthorised levy collection to the authorities, while the government reiterated its commitment to building a fair, transparent, and accountable revenue system for the benefit of all.