The Imo State government is unrelenting in the attempt to ensure that all adult pay the sum of N3,000 to make up the targeted N6m expected from each autonomous community in the State.
It would be recalled that the Owelle Rochas Okorocha government had in previous meetings with traditional rulers of the various communities requested them to raise about N6m where taxable adults are to paid N3,000.
In a renewed bid, the Commissioner For Community Government, Culture and Traditional Affairs, Hon Louis Duru, in a circular dated 3rd April, 2018 with reference number MCG7 TA/CD 238/8 refers that Governor Okorocha had in several meeting with the Royal fathers reiterated this administrations resolve on the issue of payment of Autonomous Community Adult Development Levy of N3m per adult.
According to the Commissioner in the said circular “To facilitate the payment, the State Government through the Ministry of CGC since September, 2011 had provided Community adult register for Autonomous Communities in the State where the Communities will enlist the names of at least 2,000 leviable adults.
“Consequently, His Excellency, Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha has directed that all recognized Autonomous Communities in Imo State should pay the minimum Adult Development levy of N6,000 without further delay”
The circular went further to state that “any recognized Autonomous Community that fails to pay the Development levy will be merged with sister Autonomous Community that had paid and the salary/Allowances of the Traditional Ruler of the erring community will be suspended.
Meanwhile, a former APC Chieftain who has joined the APGA to run for Governor, Hon Uche Onyeagocha has accused Okorocha of plots to defraud the autonomous communities to the tune of nearly N4billion through the process.
A statement issued on his behalf, by Onyeagocha campaign organization and made available to the public reads as follows, “Our attention has been drawn to a plot by Gov. Okorocha to dupe the 644 Autonomous Communities in Imo State the sum of almost N4billion in the dying days of his regime. In a letter issued by his Commissioner for Community Government, Culture and Traditional Affairs, Hon Louis O. Duru, each of the 644 Communities was been directed to pay the sum of N6million as counterpart funding for developmental projects.
“The communities have been threatened with withdrawal of their autonomy were they to fail to pay as well as suspension of Salaries/Allowances of their Traditional Rulers.
“This cheap blackmail to Autonomous Communities is unacceptable and highly condemnable. However we do not expect less from a dubious and anti-people administration. Accordingly, we advise all autonomous communities, their Ezes and Leaders to refrain from allowing their people from being duped. This attempt at extorting with official threat should be discountenanced”
