The Akwa Ibom State Government has refuted allegations that it deducts 15% of its workers’ salaries as tithe. This claim emerged from reports citing payslips to challenge Governor Umo Eno’s assertion that no personal assistants earn less than one million naira monthly.
Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, described the reports as false and an attempt to damage the government’s reputation. He clarified that the deductions in question are statutory PAYE tax obligations, not tithes, emphasizing that all workers in the state, including civil servants and private sector employees, are required to pay taxes.
Umanah noted that the gross monthly salaries for various aides to the governor range from ₦200,000 to ₦1,432,000, including positions like Honorary Special Advisers and Personal Assistants. The government is currently investigating the source of the false report and plans to pursue legal action against those responsible.
He urged the public to disregard the misleading claims and reiterated the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
