AKSG Describes Report On Alleged Deduction Of 15% Tithes By Sahara Reporters As Malicious, Misleading

UYO
The Akwa Ibom government has described as malicious and misleading a story by Sahara Reporters alleging that the State government deducts 15 per cent from workers’ salaries as tithe.
A statement by the commissioner for information, Elder Aniekan Umanah, weekend, said the attention of the government has been drawn to “a reckless fabrication, a deliberate falsehood, and a failed attempt to smear the image of the government and mislead the public. Linking the name of Governor Umo Eno to such a baseless claim is totally unbecoming and raises serious questions about the standard of journalism Sahara Reporters practices.”
It noted that the publication mischievously displayed a screenshot of a remittance form alongside a shaded copy of a letter purportedly from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. Upon verification, it is clear that the document relates strictly to the remuneration of certain categories of Personal Aides to the governor, who are political appointees.
“For the avoidance of doubt, there are various categories of Aides to the Governor whose monthly gross salary structure ranges from N200,000 to N1,432,000. These include Honorary Special Advisers, Senior Special Assistants, Special Assistants (SA1 & SA2), Personal Assistants (PA, PA1, PA2/Ward PAs, PA3, PA4), Project Supervisors.
“However, in line with the Governor’s statement at a recent Townsquare meeting in Ikono/Ini Federal Constituency, a full Personal Assistant to the Governor does not receive less than one million Naira in salary and allowances per month.”
It emphasized that the deduction reflected in the purported credit alert was a statutory tax. 
“Every worker in Akwa Ibom State, whether an appointee or a civil servant, pays taxes. Similarly, private sector workers also remit their PAYE taxes to the State Internal Revenue Service, AKIRS.  One wonders why the routine payment of tax, which is a constitutional responsibility of every citizen and is deducted at source from employees or appointees, is now being mischievously twisted to mean “tithes.” Tithes to who, and for what, if we may ask? We challenge anyone to provide even a single piece of evidence of remittance of funds from government for such a purpose at any time since the administration of Governor Umo Eno came on board,” the statement stated.
It said that the government of Akwa Ibom viewed the publication as mischievous, irresponsible, and ill-motivated.
“The matter is already under investigation, and appropriate steps will be taken to bring to book those behind this malicious falsehood.
   “We therefore urge the public to disregard this baseless story in its entirety. The Akwa Ibom government remains unwavering in its commitment to transparency, accountability, and the welfare of all workers, and will not be distracted by desperate attempts to distort the truth,” the statement further read.
   It cautioned Sahara Reporters and other media outlets against peddling unverified stories, saying, the government would not hesitate to take every legal measure necessary to hold purveyors of fake news accountable.