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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia
The All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State chapter has lauded President Bola Tinubu’s economic policies which, it said, have significantly increased monthly allocations to states and local governments across the federation.
APC said without these reforms, the Abia economy would have been run aground and the government cannot even afford to pay workers salaries.
The party rued the Alex Otti administration’s economic policies which it said places Abia State at the bottom of the Value Added Tax (VAT) table among the 36 states of the Federation, and the Federal Capital Territory.
A statement by the state Publicity Secretary of the party, Uche Aguoru, while thanking President Tinubu for his bold economic policies, said,
“The All Progressives Congress, Abia State Chapter, has received, with deep concern, the latest National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report on Value Added Tax (VAT) collections for the period spanning January to June 2026, which places Abia State at the bottom of the table among the 36 states of the Federation, and 37th when the Federal Capital Territory is included.
“Value added tax (VAT) is a consumption tax assessed on goods and services unlike a standard sales tax, it is collected incrementally at every stage of the supply chain, from production to the final point of sales.
“For a governor who boasted while campaigning prior to 2023 elections that investors will be trooping into the state if elected, this embarrassing ranking exposes the true state of the Abia’s economic standing beyond the media hype, lies, and government sponsored propaganda about an alleged economic revolution”.
While acknowledging that VAT collection is a critical measure of economic performance, APC questioned the much publicised economic turn around that the Alex Otti government has been hyping in all the media platforms.
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The party said, for the past three years, Abians have been told how the state has become the new destination for investors, but that the current placing of the state at the bottom of the VAT index has proved that assertion to be wrong.
“We have repeatedly heard of a ‘New Abia’ driven by economic prosperity and have deceptively misinformed the public about a 24-hour power initiative which, ordinarily, if real, should stimulate industrial production, commerce, and increased business activities.
“Data don’t lie, the objective economic data from the National Bureau of Statistics which placed Abia at the very bottom, exposes Abia’s economy as very weak and underperforming, thereby exposing the noise as louder than the achievements.
“Economic transformation cannot be measured by social media trends or sponsored skits, It must be reflected in measurable outcomes—higher production, stronger consumer spending, thriving businesses, expanding industries, and increased taxable economic activities”, APC added.
It challenged the Otti administration to name one major factory or industry established, initiated, attracted, and commissioned by this government, with the capacity to employ at least 100 Abians since it came into office.
“VAT is largely driven by consumption. When disposable income is weak, consumer spending declines, and VAT performance inevitably turns low. This is an indictment on the Alex Otti administration, it raises concerns over inadequate earnings and the rising cost of living.
“This also exposes Abia government’s failure in MSME development, under the previous administration the informal sector has always been very vibrant and received government attention and investment, The latest figures suggest that the government has not effectively maximised the potentials in this sector and has failed to integrate this sector into a broader framework for sustainable economic growth and formal economic participation.
“For a government that has failed to patronise indigenous contractors but rather outsourced major government contracts to companies whose operational base is outside Abia, it’s, therefore, expected that much of the economic value, employment opportunities, and taxable commercial activities would naturally migrate outside the state”.
APC said the state deserves factories, jobs, industries, thriving businesses, and an economy that genuinely works for everyone.
