As part of measures to cushion the effect of Covid -19 pandemic, Akwa Ibom State government has approved a tax holiday for all tax payers in the state.
To this end, the government has directed the Ministry of Finance to work out modalities for immediate implementation.
This was part of the resolutions reached, Friday, at the State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Udom Emmanuel at Government House, Uyo.
Briefing Government House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Udoh, said that the decision was in line with the World Bank requirements for giving out grants and support to state governments as well as a decision taken at the Governor’s forum for grants and reward to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on states.
“Major decisions taken today include the approval of the council to commence a process of working out modalities for implementation of tax relief to tax payers in Akwa Ibom State for 2020 tax year.
“This is in consideration of the adverse effect of COVID-19 pandemic and in line with the requirement of World Bank for grants and support to state governments. It is also a decision reached at the Governor’s forum for grants and reward to cushion the effect of COVID-19 pandemic . Details of the weaver is being worked out by the Ministry of Finance and will be published in due course”, he stated.
He added that the Council also considered report on leadership training for senior Civil Servants to be sponsored by the State Government as well as commissioning of blocks of flats constructed by the state government under the second phase of Barracks Rehabilitation Initiative for the Nigerian Army at the Wellington Bassey Barracks, Six Amphibious Battalion, Ibagwa and announced that the blocks of flat would be due for inauguration in two weeks.
The Information Boss said that the Council also received the report of Memorandum of Understanding signed to settle an age – long boundary dispute between Nung Oku Ekanem and Afaha Obio villages in Onna Local Government Area.
On the reopening of schools, the Commissioner hinted that the State COVID-19 Management Committee has been directed to work out protocols and guidelines for resumption of schools and presented same to the Council for consideration.
Hear him: “Exco also deliberated on school resumption and of course has not arrived at a final conclusion but the Commissioner for Health, Dr Dominic Ukpong and the State COVID-19 Management Committee have been mandated to workout modalities for the resumption.
“If you recall before the partial reopening of churches we
had to go through certain processes and protocol, here we are also going through the same process to ensure that no individual is endangered and the lives of our children and even the teachers are not endangered”.
According to Udoh, Ministries , Departments and Agencies, MDAs, took turns to present reports to the Council for consideration.
