Rochas Okorocha, Governor of Imo State, has approved a N3,000 levy on all “leviable adults” in the state — to be used for what the state government described as “autonomous community adult development levy”.
Similarly, all autonomous communities in the state have been levied N6 million each, for the same purpose.
The directive was contained in a statement issued to the communitieson April 3 by Louis Duru, Imo State Commissioner for Community Government, Culture and Traditional Affairs.
“To facilitate the payment, the State Government through the Ministry of CGC, since September 2016, has provided community adult registers for all autonomous communities in the state where the communities will enlist the names of at least 2000 leviable adults”, read the statement which has now gone viral on the social media.
“Consequently, His Excellency Owelle Anayo Rochas Okorocha has directed that all recognised autonomous communities in Imo State should pay the minimum adult development levy of N6,000,000 (Six million Naira only) without further delay.
“Any recognised autonomous community that fails to pay the development levy will be merged with sister autonomous community that had paid and the salaries/allowances of the traditional ruler ill be suspended.
“Government has concluded arrangements to embark on sensitisation meetings with traditional rulers at the local government areas to further emphasize His Excellency’s directives and monitor compliance.”
Imo State’s Rochas Okorocha is asking every “leviable adult” for N3k & each Autonomous Community, N6m. #Banditry pic.twitter.com/TM5WhCEZAU
— Chidi Odinkalu (@ChidiOdinkalu) April 19, 2018
Okorocha has been accused of running Imo State like a private concern, appointing his family members and close associates into important positions.
Among them are Ogechi Ololo, Okorocha’s biological sister and Deputy Chief of Staff, who was also appointed Commissioner for Happiness and Purpose Fulfillment; Uche Nwosu, his son in-law who is currently his Chief of Staff and has been endorsed to succeed him as Governor; Eze Madumere, his long-term business associate and current deputy, who has also been endorsed to run for the Senate in 2019; Anthony Onwuka, his in-law whom, through the Governor’s nomination, is currently the Minister of State for Education.
Okorocha has also declared his interest to run for the Orlu Senatorial seat in the forthcoming general election, and subsequently for the presidency in 2023.