Is Akwa Ibom Gov’t Deducting ‘15% Tithes’ From Workers’ Salaries? Commissioner Reacts
- The Akwa Ibom State Government has denied reports that 15 percent of appointees’ salaries are deducted monthly as tithes
- Commissioner for Information Aniekan Umanah said the alleged payslips only reflected statutory tax deductions such as PAYE
- The state has launched an investigation into the source of the report and warned media outlets against spreading unverified claims
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The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed reports alleging that 15 percent of workers’ salaries are being deducted monthly as compulsory tithes.
Officials described the claims as false and intended to tarnish the image of Governor Umo Eno’s administration.
Source: Twitter
The controversy followed a report circulated on Saturday showing payslips said to belong to some appointees of the state government.
The report attempted to counter Governor Eno’s statement that none of his personal assistants earns less than one million naira monthly. It also cited an unnamed appointee who claimed that a 15 percent tithe was forcibly removed from their salaries, irrespective of church affiliation.
Commissioner addresses tithe claims
Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, issued a statement in Uyo on Sunday describing the report as “a reckless fabrication, a deliberate falsehood, and a failed attempt to smear the image of the government, the Governor and mislead the public.”
Umanah clarified that documents used in the report were misleading and misrepresented.
Source: Twitter
He explained that the referenced forms and letters only applied to certain categories of aides to the governor and merely reflected statutory deductions such as Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there are various categories of aides to the Governor whose gross monthly salaries and allowances range from ₦200,000 to ₦1,432,000, including Honorary Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants, and Project Supervisors,” the Commissioner said.
He reiterated the governor’s earlier remark at a town hall meeting in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency that a full Personal Assistant earns no less than one million naira monthly.
He stressed that the deductions seen in the controversial payslips were statutory taxes and not tithes.
“Every worker in Akwa Ibom State, whether an appointee or a civil servant, pays taxes. Similarly, private sector workers also remit their PAYE taxes to the State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS). One wonders why the routine payment of tax, which is a constitutional responsibility of every citizen, is now being mischievously twisted to mean tithes. Tithes to whom, and for what, if we may ask?” he queried.
Probe launched into 'false claim'
The Commissioner further disclosed that an investigation had commenced to trace the origin of the report. He warned that individuals or groups behind the allegations would face consequences once identified.
Umanah appealed to the public to disregard the publication and assured workers that the administration remains committed to transparency, accountability, and their welfare.
He also cautioned media platforms against circulating unverified reports, saying the state would not hesitate to pursue legal action against those spreading misinformation.
15,000 job seekers apply for 3,000 in Akwa Ibom
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that more than 15,000 job seekers have applied for the 3,000 vacancies announced by the Akwa Ibom State Government in its civil service recruitment exercise.
Governor Umo Eno disclosed the figure during the state’s monthly prayer service in Uyo.
Source: Legit.ng
