The Abia State Government has dismissed reports that akara sellers are being compelled to pay N50,000 in taxes, describing the allegation as false and misleading.

Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, made this known on Monday while briefing journalists on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said akara sellers were not liable for such a tax, explaining that they only pay daily tolls.

“This is pure fallacy. Nothing can be further from the truth. Akara sellers don’t pay tax or levies. They pay daily tolls. And none can pay N50,000,” he said.

The commissioner also rejected claims that the state government had introduced fresh tax increases, saying most of the rates currently being circulated were contained in tax laws enacted in 2020 by the previous administration.

“For starters, these rates are not new. Most of the rates are 2020 tax rates that were introduced by the previous government,” Kanu said.

He stressed that the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue could not increase tax rates without enabling legislation, adding that no such increase had been introduced by the present administration.

Kanu said demand notices issued by the Board were backed by existing laws and urged taxpayers to comply with legitimate tax obligations.

The Chairman of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue, Uche Elekwachi, also dismissed the N50,000 claim, saying there was no revenue window under the state’s tax laws requiring akara sellers to pay such an amount.

Elekwachi noted that the Abia Internally Generated Revenue Service Law, which provides the applicable tax framework, was enacted in 2020, before the Otti administration came into office.

Meanwhile, the state government has approved the designation of several historical and natural sites as State Monuments and State Natural Monuments.

The National War Museum, Ojukwu Bunker and Government College, all in Umuahia, were approved as State Monuments, while Ibom Waterfall in Arochukwu and Ulochukwu Cave in Alayi, Bende Local Government Area, were designated State Natural Monuments.

Kanu said the move was aimed at preserving Abia’s cultural and natural heritage, promoting tourism and creating new economic opportunities.

He also announced that Aba had been designated a Creative and Innovative City in recognition of its commercial, industrial and creative significance.

According to him, the retrofitting of the Ojukwu Bunker and National War Museum had reached about 80 per cent completion and would be concluded before the end of 2026.

Kanu added that the Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy had received approval to develop the Ibom Waterfall Tourism Corridor, with work already underway on access roads to the site.

He said the government was also erecting monuments at strategic locations to preserve Abia’s heritage and honour its heroes and heroines, including a monument dedicated to the women who participated in the 1929 Aba Women’s Riot.

On gratuity payments, Kanu disclosed that the government had completed payments covering retired workers owed from 2001 to 2010 and was preparing the next batch covering 2011 to 2025.

He said the next payments would commence after the completion of verification and other necessary processes.

The commissioner explained that the payments were being made in batches because of the substantial financial commitment involved, dismissing claims that the process was prompted by opposition pressure.

Kanu also clarified that the inclusion of gratuity provisions in the state’s 2026–2031 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework did not mean payments would stop in 2031.

He said the provision was intended to ensure that gratuity obligations were systematically captured in annual budgets and prevent the accumulation of fresh arrears.

Kanu reaffirmed the government’s commitment to clearing outstanding gratuities, expressing optimism that the process could be completed earlier than anticipated.

The Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Matthew Ekwuribe, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Internally Generated Revenue, Emmanuel Okpechi, were also present at the briefing.