Abia Govt denies imposing N50,000 tax on akara sellers

Abia State Government has dismissed allegations that it imposed N50,000 tax on women selling Akara  in the  streets of the state.

The government also denied reports that it is subjecting school proprietors and other business owners in the state to excruciating taxations.

Abia State Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, made the clarification on Monday in Umuahia while briefing journalists on the outcome of this week’s executive council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu who said that the state government had earlier abolished multiple taxation and did not introduce any new tax as being alleged by the opposition.

“There is another one trending. It is the story of an akara seller who is paying N50,000 as tax.

“This is pure fallacy and nothing can be farther from the truth as akara sellers don’t pay tax or levies but they pay daily tolls,” Kanu said.

The commissioner said that the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue has no power to increase taxes without getting approval from the House of Assembly.

He also dismissed claims that it was the pressure from the opposition that made the government to commence gratuity payments to pensioners.