The Abia State Government has rejected reports that akara sellers and other petty traders are being charged N50,000 in tax, describing the claim as false and misleading.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, gave the clarification on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
Kanu said the state government had not introduced any new tax increase through the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue. He explained that most of the rates being circulated were contained in tax legislation enacted in 2020 by the previous administration.
According to him, the revenue board cannot independently increase tax rates without supporting legislation. He therefore urged taxpayers to rely on official information concerning their tax obligations.
Addressing the specific claim involving akara sellers, Kanu said the traders do not pay the alleged N50,000 tax. He explained that they pay daily tolls and insisted that the amount being circulated was not applicable to them.
The Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, Uche Elekwachi, supported the clarification. He said there was no revenue provision under the state’s existing tax framework requiring akara sellers to pay N50,000.
Elekwachi noted that the Abia Internally Generated Revenue Service Law establishing the relevant framework was enacted in 2020, before the current administration assumed office.
The government also approved the designation of several historical and natural locations as State Monuments and State Natural Monuments.
The approved historical sites include the National War Museum and Ojukwu Bunker in Umuahia, as well as Government College, Umuahia. Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and Ulochukwu Cave in Alayi, Bende Local Government Area, were designated State Natural Monuments.
Kanu said the designations were intended to strengthen heritage preservation, promote tourism and create new economic opportunities. He added that the sites could eventually attract recognition as UNESCO Heritage Sites.
Aba was also designated a Creative and Innovative City because of its longstanding commercial, industrial and creative importance.
The commissioner said retrofitting work at the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum was about 80 per cent complete and was expected to finish before the end of 2026.
The Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy has also received approval to develop the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor. According to Kanu, work has already started, including the grading of access roads to the waterfall.
The government has further begun erecting monuments at strategic locations to preserve Abia’s heritage and honour notable figures. One of the projects is a monument dedicated to the heroines of the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot.
On outstanding gratuities owed retired workers, Kanu said payments covering retirees from 2001 to 2010 had been completed.
He said the government was now preparing for the next batch covering 2011 to 2025, subject to the completion of ongoing verification and other internal processes.
Kanu explained that payments would continue in batches because of the size of the financial obligation. He also clarified that provisions extending to 2031 in the state’s Medium-Term Expenditure Framework do not mean gratuity payments will stop that year.
He said the framework was intended to ensure that gratuity obligations are included systematically in future budgets and prevent the accumulation of fresh arrears.
The commissioner expressed optimism that the outstanding payments could be cleared earlier than anticipated as the verification and payment process continues.
