Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno, is facing heavy criticism over allegations that his administration has been deducting 15 per cent from the salaries of political appointees as compulsory tithe.
Governor Eno, who is the founder of All Nations Christian Ministry International, is also accused of making misleading claims about the earnings of his aides. At a Town Square Meeting with residents of Ikono and Ini Federal Constituency on August 22, the governor stated that none of his Personal Assistants (PAs) received less than ₦1 million monthly, a claim that is now being disputed by leaked payslips.
According to documents and testimonies from affected aides, PAs actually earn far less, with many receiving ₦350,000 monthly in 2023. However, only ₦304,000 reportedly reached their accounts after ₦46,000 was deducted at source as tithe.
An aide, speaking anonymously, alleged that Governor Eno has long enforced such deductions, tracing the practice back to his days at Royalty Hotels and Resorts. The source further revealed that after Eno defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2025, salaries were reviewed to ₦500,000, but appointees only received ₦425,000, with ₦75,000 allegedly deducted monthly.
With an estimated 5,000 PAs under his administration, the deductions reportedly amount to about ₦375 million monthly and ₦4.5 billion annually, excluding alleged deductions from the salaries of Special Advisers and Senior Special Assistants.
The revelations have sparked outrage among political observers and appointees, raising concerns about governance ethics, financial accountability, and the use of religious justifications for state policies.
Source: Politics Nigeria
