Cross River Governor to exempt low income earners from paying tax

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River says he will sponsor an executive bill at the state House of Assembly to exempt low income earners and those at the minimum wage range from paying taxes.

Ayade announced this on Wednesday in Calabar during an interactive forum with newsmen.

"A bill to exempt low income earners and those in the minimum wage level from paying tax will be sent to the state assembly today (Wednesday).

"We are doing this to ameliorate their plight because they have other financial obligations to attend to, and their income is very meagre.

"When you task a market woman who sells onions and tomatoes to pay tax, you are definitely taking away her profit and reducing the standard of her meagre business,’’ he said.

According to him, the bill will provide a social safety net to low income earners and raise their living standard.

He said that he would continue to fashion out ways of giving the core poor a sense of belonging.

"The tax exemption bill is meant to exempt the low income earners like `Okada' riders, traders, barbers and other petty traders,'' he explained.

The governor assured civil servants in the state of their welfare and prompt payment of salaries.