A’Ibom’s Tax Bills Will Protect Low Income Earners, Boost SMEs, Promote Economic Growth – AKIRS Boss

By Uduak Akai 
UYO
The proposed tax, revenue administration and gaming regulation bills currently before Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly (AKHA) for consideration have been described as people-centred reforms designed to protect low income earners, support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs), eliminate multiple taxation and stimulate economic growth. 
   The three executive bills namely: Akwa Ibom State Revenue Service and Administrative Bill 2025; Akwa Ibom State Taxes and Levies Bill 2025; and Lottery Regulatory Agency Bill 2025, seek to harmonise taxes, improve transparency and accountability in revenue collection, as well as provide a clear legal framework for lottery and gaming activities in Akwa Ibom.
This was the position of the executive chairman of Akwa Ibom State Internal Revenue Service (AKIRS), Sir Okon Okon, during a public hearing on the bills, which took place at Luton Park Hotel, Uyo, Wednesday.
Okon, a member of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, listed other benefits of the tax bills to include: elimination of multiple taxes, stoppage of road blocks for revenue collections, harmonisation of tax collections such as property tax, daily ticket and uniformity in tax administration and other rates across the federation.
Still on the benefits, the AKIRS boss added that the bills shall ease business transactions, exemptions and reduction in personal income tax for low income bracket, zero Value-Added Tax (VAT) on food, transport, health, education and rent as well as elimination of minimum tax on losses and nuisance taxes.
“The tax reform has brought a lot of good news to the people. Firstly, what used to be multiple taxes, about 46 taxes between the state and the federation have been harmonised under the bills into nine taxes for all the states of the federation, not only Akwa Ibom. 
“Secondly, low-income earners who earn N800,000 annually and below are completely exempted from personal income tax, whereas last year it was low-income earners who earn N300,000 and below”, Okon explained.
Okon described the old tax laws which came to an end on December 31, 2025 as archaic and obsolete, saying, “Moreover, five items: food, health, education, rent and mass transportation have been put on zero VAT rate. That should bring a lot of relief to households. And there is digitalisation of tax processes for efficiency, transparency and accountability”.
Declaring the public hearing open, the speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Elder Udeme Otong, described the bills as critical to strengthening economic growth, transparency and stability in the state.
Otong, represented by the member representing Itu State Constituency and deputy speaker of the State Assembly, Mr KufreAbasi Edidem, said the hearing was convened to gather inputs from stakeholders and citizens in line with democratic principles, highlighting that the legislation would eliminate inefficiencies, improve accountability in revenue administration and regulate betting and lottery activities effectively.
The chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Dr Itorobong Etim, Ph.D, said the bills are intended to strengthen efficiency, transparency and accountability in the state’s revenue system, explaining further that the public hearing was organised in line with constitutional provisions and global legislative best practices to ensure citizens’ participation, adding that stakeholder inputs would help produce quality legislation capable of standing the test of time.
Etim assured that the bills, when passed into law, would enhance effective revenue generation, promote fiscal discipline and improve management of the state’s resources and thanked Governor Umo Eno, Ph.D, for transmitting the bills to the House as well as appreciated the speaker, lawmakers, assembly staff, stakeholders and the media for their support and participation.
The public hearing, organised by the House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, was attended by lawmakers including the deputy chairman of the Committee and member for Ikono State Constituency, Mr Asuquo Udo; members for Ini, Mr Lawrence Udoide; Okobo, Mr Pius Bassey; Nsit Ibom, Mr Eric Akpan; Ikot Ekpene/Obot Akara, Mr Jerry Otu; Nsit Atai, Prince Aniefiok Attah; Uyo, Mr Uwemedimo Asuquo; Etinan, Mr Uduak Ekpo-Ufot; commissioner for finance, Mr Emem Bob; commissioner for budget and economic planning, Dr Linus Nkan; commissioner for transport, Dr Anthony Luke; State chairman of NLC, Comrade Sunny James; representative of Policy Alert, as well as representatives of CSOs, CITN, ICAN, among other stakeholders.