With Facts & Figures, Akwa Ibom Govt Shuts Down Claims Of Tithe Deductions From Salaries

The Akwa Ibom State Government has dismissed as false and malicious the claim that deductions are made from the salaries of its political appointees under the guise of “tithes,” insisting that what is being misrepresented is statutory tax payable by every worker in the state.

In a statement issued in Uyo on Sunday, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, said the government was alarmed by the spread of such a baseless allegation, describing it as an attempt to smear the image of Governor Umo Eno’s administration and mislead the public.

According to the statement, the documents circulated to support the claim were linked to the remuneration structure of some categories of personal aides to the governor.

These include Honorary Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, Personal Assistants at various levels, and Project Supervisors.

The monthly salary and allowances for these positions range between ₦200,000 and ₦1,432,000, with the governor recently affirming during a Townsquare meeting in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency that no full Personal Assistant under his office earns less than one million naira.

Umanah stressed that the deductions reflected in payment slips and alerts are statutory taxes, not tithes. He explained that all employees in the state, whether in the public or private sector, have their Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) taxes deducted at source and remitted to the Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service in line with constitutional provisions.

“One wonders why the routine payment of tax, which is a civic duty of every citizen, should be mischievously twisted to mean tithes,” the statement read. “Tithes to who, and for what, if we may ask? We challenge anyone to provide even a single piece of evidence of remittance of funds from government for such a purpose since the present administration came on board.”

The government described the allegation as irresponsible and ill-motivated, disclosing that an investigation had been launched to unravel those behind the falsehood. It added that necessary measures would be taken to ensure accountability.

Reassuring workers and the public of its commitment to transparency and accountability, the state government urged citizens to disregard the claims in their entirety, maintaining that the welfare of its workforce remains a top priority.

The statement also warned media outlets and individuals against spreading unverified reports, saying the government would not hesitate to invoke legal measures against purveyors of fake news.