Governor Alex Otti of Abia State has addressed concerns regarding recent salary deductions for some civil servants in the state.
Speaking at the Government House in Umuahia during his monthly media briefing with journalists on Friday night, Governor Otti explained that the government had conducted an investigation following complaints about the deductions.
He clarified that the discrepancies in salaries were due to the transition from the 2018/2019 tax rate to the current tax rate used for salary deductions.
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“A lot of people who felt their salaries were being reduced, when we investigated those complaints, we found that what actually happened was that before now an old tax rate was being applied.
“The 2018/2019 tax rate was being applied and there was a 2021/2022 tax law, which of course, has come into effect.
“I find it difficult to accept that somebody is pinching salaries, then how do you even do it, because the money leaves the account of the state and hits the account of the beneficiary.
“So, at what point would somebody deduct the salaries, and if you deduct, where do you take it to?”
The governor also addressed concerns regarding salary discrepancies in some local government areas, stating that the investigation found these claims to be unfounded.
Mr. Otti explained that the issue stemmed from tax deductions based on the current rate.
Additionally, he announced a new policy allowing civil servants to receive an overtime allowance for duties performed beyond their regular hours at the government’s request.
He said: “If you were getting paid overtime and you were getting some overtime, now the government says you are not supposed to work overtime.
“Except if there is need for that and it is the government that would ask you to do that.
“I think that is what people are mistaking for salary being deducted.”
