Otti’s Government, Taxing The Poor To Sustain The Plundering.
By Uche Aguoru
Governor Alex Otti’s administration has once again shown gross insensitivity to the plight of the poor and impoverished Abians. The proposed H.A.B. 31 of 2025, which seeks to impose levies on everyday packaging — from pure water, bread, cement to biscuit wrappers, is not only anti-people but a calculated attempt to frustrate small businesses and deny the struggling and poor Abia masses the low cost products they depend on for their daily survival ironically this is coming at a time when the federal government is working on relieving the poor Nigerians of tax burden.
This is a government that has not provided a single meaningful palliative to cushion the hardship in the state — no food distribution, no transport support, no economic relief, no palliative support for the poor Abia civil servant instead the government has resorted to stealth taxation, subtracting over 35% of their already meagre monthly earnings through questionable deductions as if that punishment is not enough it now seeks to tax survival itself, punishing both producers and consumers under the pretense of environmental reform.
How does a government that has received over ₦900 billion in the last two years justify adding more burdens on its people instead of offering relief? Where has all the money gone?
For a governor who spends an average of 1 billion naira tax payers money on feeding in his private residence in Umuehim Nvosi at the expense of the suffering Abia masses.
This is not reform, IT IS WICKEDNESS
It is designed to raise the prices of basic goods and mostly those that the poor affords for their daily needs, it will frustrate and crush SMEs, and deepen poverty in every corner of Abia State.
A responsible and sincere government shows empathy, provides relief, reduces burdens, listens to the people but sadly all these are lacking in Otti’s government rather what we get is punishment and oppression of the poor and suffering Abians taxing even the low cost products such as sweets,bread, biscuits and pure water that their children relishes.
The implication is that prices of most of our daily needs and basic items that we depend on for daily sustenance will be hiked beyond the reach of the masses and we must insist that Governor Otti withdraws this heartless bill and show true leadership empathetic to the poor and suffering Abia masses and not stifling the resilience of Ndi Abia.
Otti should show a little compassion and consideration for the poor, he should please put behind him the rejections of 2015 and 2019 and show some mercy even now that he has been given the chance to achieve his lifetime ambition of being a governor.
Aguoru
Is a Political Analyst and Social Crusader
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