The Akwa Ibom State Government has rejected claims that it deducts 15 percent of its workers’ salaries as tithe, following reports that surfaced over the weekend. These allegations were aimed at discrediting Governor Umo Eno’s statement that none of his personal assistants earn less than one million naira monthly.
The report, which was not published by PUNCH, included claims from an unnamed appointee who alleged that the Governor deducts 15% of their salaries as a compulsory tithe each month. The accusations also suggested that this deduction applies regardless of the workers’ religious affiliations.
In response, the Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, issued a statement from the state capital, Uyo, on Sunday. Umanah dismissed the report as “false, malicious, and irresponsible.” He described the claims as a “reckless fabrication” aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the state government and its leadership.
Umanah clarified that the document featured in the report, which included a remittance form, was incorrectly labelled as relating to salary deductions for tithes. He confirmed that the form was connected to the statutory PAYE (Pay As You Earn) tax deductions for certain political appointees, not religious tithe collections.
To further dispel the allegations, Umanah provided specifics regarding the salaries of various aides to the Governor. He explained that the salaries of personal aides and other political appointees range from ₦200,000 to ₦1,432,000, including Honorary Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants, and Personal Assistants. He emphasized that this was in line with the Governor’s earlier statement that all Personal Assistants earn a minimum of one million naira monthly.
The Commissioner elaborated that the deductions in question were tax obligations, not tithes. “Every worker in Akwa Ibom State, whether in public service or private employment, is bound by law to pay taxes,” Umanah explained. He further questioned why such routine tax payments were being “misleadingly twisted” to appear as tithes.
Umanah stressed that the matter is now under investigation, and steps are being taken to hold those responsible for the false claims accountable. He assured the public that the Akwa Ibom State Government remains dedicated to transparency and the welfare of its workers.
Finally, the Commissioner called on the public to disregard the baseless report. He also issued a stern warning to media outlets that spread unverified news, stating that the government would take legal action against anyone responsible for publishing fake news.
