‘I was misinterpreted’ – Kwara Commissioner clears air on tax holiday for workers
The Kwara State Government, through the Ministry of Tertiary Education has denied the report of the approval of a three-month tax holiday the state workers as part of the government’s efforts to cushion the impact of Nigerians’ current economic hardship.
The state Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Hajia Sa’adatu Modibbo-Kawu made the clarification through a statement by the secretary of the ministry Omotayo Ayanda, saying she was merely referencing the bonus during a recent engagement with the Joint Committee of Colleges of Education, when members of the committee paid her a visit in her office.
An earlier report had claimed that AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s state government had approved a three-month tax holiday for its workers as part of the government’s efforts to cushion the impact of Nigerians’ current economic hardship.
The report claimed that the ministry, while reaffirming Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s unwavering commitment to workers’ welfare, especially in the education sector, emphasized that the governor’s recent approval of the tax relief underscores his responsiveness to the economic challenges being experienced nationwide.
“The governor is a listening leader who prioritizes the welfare of workers. He understands the current hardships Nigerians face, which is why he approved a three-month tax relief for all workers in the state,” she said.
However, in a counter statement released from the ministry, noted that, “The attention of the Ministry of Teritairy Education has been drawn to a media report suggesting that the Kwara State Government has approved a tax holiday for the state workers.
The Commissioner, while clarifying the statement, said said, “there is no iota of truth in the said media report as it was a misrepresentation of the Ministry or any of its agents, and, as such, should be disregarded.”
She noted, “The state government had approved a three-month bonus for civil servants affected by the implementation of the correct PAYE deduction in the state last year. Designed to offer a relief for the transition, this bonus was meant to last for three months, and that was clearly communicated.
The statement concluded by urging media platforms and members of the public to kindly note the clarification.
