Akwa Ibom Government Slams Fake News Report on Mandatory Tithe

The Akwa Ibom State Government has denied allegations of deducting tithes from employees’ salaries, labeling the report as false and malicious.

Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Aniekan Umanah, described the story as a “reckless fabrication” aimed at tarnishing the government’s image.

According to Umanah, the report incorrectly linked a remittance form to a letter from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government, which actually pertains to tax deductions for certain categories of the Governor’s aides.

These aides, including Honorary Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, and Personal Assistants, earn between ₦200,000 and ₦1,432,000 monthly.

The Commissioner clarified that the deductions reflected in the alleged credit alert are statutory tax obligations, not tithes. “Every worker in Akwa Ibom State pays taxes, and private sector workers also remit their PAYE taxes to the State Internal Revenue Service,” Umanah explained.

He questioned the motive behind twisting routine tax payments to imply tithes.

The government has launched an investigation into the matter and will hold those responsible for the false report accountable.

Umanah urged the public to disregard the story and assured that the government remains committed to transparency, accountability, and workers’ welfare. He also warned media organizations against spreading unverified stories, stating that the government will take legal action against purveyors of fake news.