Aniefiok Christopher
The Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network has rejected the Akwa Ibom Taxes Bill, otherwise known as the Property Bill, describing it as anti-people, draconian, monstrous, and oppressive.
The group opposed the bill entitled: “A Bill for a Law to Harmonise and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks Relating to Taxes in Akwa Ibom State and for Other Matters Connected Therein” during its public hearing held at Luton Park Hotel, Uyo on February 4, 2026.
The bill is domesticated from Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025 with emphasis on payment of property tax and levies.
Addressing members of the Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State, the Executive Director of CHRAN, Mr Franklyn Isong, said the rejection followed critical scrutiny of the bill, warning that if allowed to pass into law, it would further impoverish the already deprived citizens of the state.
Also read
- CHRAN Exposes alleged Plots to Cause Unrest in COE
- CHRAN Decries Akwa Ibom LG Councils as Poverty Centres
- CHRAN Seeks full implementation of Anti-opening Grazing Law in Akwa Ibom
Recalling that a similar bill was rejected in 2016 during the administration of then Governor Udom Emmanuel, he called on members of the State House of Assembly to “cast their names in the annals of history by standing down further consideration of the bill.”
Making the group’s position known in Uyo on Thursday, he said, “CHRAN rejects the bill in its entirety and calls on the members of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, which prides itself as the people’s assembly, to rise in support of the citizens and include their names in the annals of history by standing down further consideration of the bill.
“There are no better definitions of the words draconian, anti-people, oppressive, monstrous, and obnoxious than the provisions of this bill, which seeks to punish poverty and further impoverish the already deprived citizens of Akwa Ibom State.
“CHRAN recalls that a similar bill was presented to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in 2016 and was outrightly rejected by the people of the state.”
Isong, who tagged the bill a “witchcraft bill” because of its destructive tendencies, stated that the bill has strangulating characteristics that could shut down the private-sector economy in Akwa Ibom State if allowed to pass into law.
Analysing sections and provisions of the bill and their implications on the citizenry, Isong said the bill negates the campaign mantra of the ARISE Agenda, which portrays Governor Umo Eno as a friend and lover of the poor in society.
“In sections 16 and 19 of the bill, CHRAN notes that ‘‘the bill seeks to make tenancy life one of hardship and misery, as any tax(es) imposed on real property owners and landlords will be transferred to tenants in the state.
“In section 21(2) of the bill, the centre notes that the bill seeks to promote absentee landlords by transferring the liability of landlords to the occupiers of the property, without even masking its anti-people intent.
“CHRAN observes that the bill does not distinguish between houses in urban cities and houses in rural communities. Even houses occupied by the poorest of the poor, including occupants of mud houses, will be taxed in line with sections 16 and 19 of the bill.
“The bill is very strict and only interested in collecting revenue for the government, without any provision for relief in favour of citizens. This completely negates the campaign mantra of the ARISE Agenda, which portrays the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency Pastor Umo Eno, as a friend and lover of the poor in society,” he said.
The executive director noted that certain terms invented by the bill are dangerous, ambiguous, and calculated to emasculate Akwa Ibom citizens.
According to him, the word “ENFORCEMENT” as used in the context of section 28(2) of the bill is capable of many dubious interpretations, including the seizure of people’s property.
Iosng, therefore, called on the state governor to refuse assent to the bill if passed into law by the House.
