The Abia State Government has denied reports that it imposed a N50,000 tax on women who sell akara on the streets across the state.

The government also rejected claims that school proprietors and other business owners are being subjected to excessive taxation.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, made the clarification on Monday in Umuahia while briefing journalists on the outcome of the week’s State Executive Council meeting, presided over by Governor Alex Otti.

Kanu said the state government had previously abolished multiple taxation and had not introduced any new tax as being alleged by opposition groups.

“There is another one trending. It is the story of an akara seller who is paying N50,000 as tax.

“This is pure fallacy and nothing can be farther from the truth as akara sellers don’t pay tax or levies but they pay daily tolls,” Kanu said.

The commissioner further explained that the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue does not have the authority to increase taxes without approval from the State House of Assembly.

Kanu also dismissed claims that pressure from opposition parties forced the state government to begin the payment of gratuities to pensioners.