Residents of Leer County, Unity State, have raised concerns over a new tax imposed on sorghum traders in the local market.
Speaking to Leer FM, community members urged the government
to exempt sorghum from taxation, warning that the levy would drive up food
prices and worsen economic hardship.
“It is not right to impose taxation on the sorghum traders
who used to bring food from the state capital to Leer county. It has never
happened even in the state capital to impose taxation on sorghum,” said Gatkuoth
Kuong Gai, resident of Leer.
Local trader Katmai Guor confirmed that authorities are
charging 20,000 SSP per sack of sorghum.
“The government has three offices where the sorghum traders
pay tax differently. Those three offices include the finance office, the
criminal investigation office (CID) and the taxation office,” Guor confirmed.
Another resident, Gattiek Goh, expressed concern.
“The registration of sorghum will lead to the suffering of
the citizens. In this case, the government violates the right of the citizens,
as other citizens who are not traders transport their own food from the state
capital,” Goh stated.
Currently, one tin of sorghum sells for 40,000 SSP in the
Leer market. Residents warn that the new tax will further increase prices and
add to the economic burden.
Leer FM has reached out to local authorities for comment on
the tax and its impact on prices but has not yet received a response.