• Vows to abolish levies on barrow, truck pushers
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Abia State, Dr. Kelechi Anosike, has promised a welfarist tax regime and a holistic review of the state’s tax policy to ease the burden on traders, artisans, workers and other residents if elected in February 2027.
Anosike, who accused the present administration of imposing a “heavy tax regime” on residents and businesses, said the proposed review would ensure that taxation does not further impoverish people already “struggling to eke out a living.”
Speaking during a radio simulcast relayed by 12 stations across the state as part of activities marking the formal kick-off of his campaign, the PDP candidate specifically pledged to abolish daily taxes and levies imposed on barrow and truck pushers.
“Why do you tax a truck pusher, a barrow pusher N1,000, N2,000 per day? I will abolish it. He’s not using your light, he’s not using your diesel. He’s just using his raw muscle,” he said.
Anosike said traders, particularly those at Ariaria International Market, had continued to complain about what he described as excessive taxation, insisting that government should not seek to grow Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by choking small businesses and vulnerable citizens.
He said his administration would instead expand the state’s revenue base by attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and creating an environment conducive to businesses.
“We will work hard and open up the state for investors to come. Their investments will boost the state’s economy and Internally Generated Revenue, and provide the needed resources to develop the state rather than choke the citizens with taxation,” he said.
Anosike also promised to raise the minimum wage for the least-paid state worker to N90,000 and harmonise what he described as discrepancies in the salary structure of the state civil service.
“Government has put a benchmark at N70,000. Sadly, some workers in Abia are still collecting N50,000. The Anosike-led administration will start from N90,000 and it will be applied holistically across board, not selective,” he said.
He pledged to clear outstanding gratuities, pensions and allowances within his first 100 days in office, arguing that increased allocations from the Federation Account following the removal of fuel subsidy had given states greater financial capacity.
The PDP candidate also promised to recall what he described as 15,000 workers prematurely disengaged from the state civil service and introduce a “Civil Service Care” programme encompassing prompt payment of salaries and allowances and health insurance for workers.
He said his proposed “Pension Plus” programme would recalibrate pensions in line with the new minimum wage, while an Abia State Salary Review and Restructuring Committee would be established within his first 100 days to address salary disparities.
“It is wrong for a Level 8 officer to still be receiving the salary of Level 4. This discrimination will stop,” he said.
For youths, Anosike proposed the establishment of the Abia Labour and Global Opportunities Agency (ALGOA), which he said would equip young people with skills for remote jobs and enable them to earn foreign currency.
He also promised to establish a football academy and construct two stadia in Aba and Umuahia within his first year in office.
On infrastructure, Anosike said his administration would pursue what he called development with a human face under the mantra, “Aruo uzo, aruo afo,” pledging four major legacy projects within his first year.
“We will not build roads at the expense of people’s lives,” he said.
Assessing the present administration, Anosike acknowledged what he called “pockets of development,” particularly in road construction, but argued that the performance did not reflect the resources accruing to the state.
“There are pockets of development, especially in roads. But it is not enough based on what Abia receives monthly. In a national assessment, only roads were above average. All other sectors were below average. I rate them below average,” he said.
He declared that a PDP administration under him would deliver more broadly across sectors, saying: “Anosike g’eme karia” — “Anosike will do much more.”
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