There was a mild drama in the Rivers State House of Assembly during the interrogation of a commissioner nominee over why her curriculum vitae does not indicate an up-to-date tax clearance.
The woman promptly replied: “I Don’t Pay Tax, I’m a Politician.”
The State Assembly Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Chike Amaewhule, had asked her: “Why have you not been paying tax?”
Read a transcript of the video showing the altercation between Amaewhule and the commissioner nominee below:
Drama in Rivers Assembly
(0:13) So there’s no tax clearance, current one? (0:15) There’s no current one. (0:16) Madam, you’ve not been paying tax since 2018? (0:19) I just wanted to know if she’s been exempted from paying tax. (0:23) So let’s tell us now.
Let her tell us. (0:26) Like I said before, I’m a politician. (0:29) You are what? (0:31) I am a politician.
(0:32) You’re a politician? (0:33) Yes. (0:34) So politicians don’t pay tax? (0:36) We don’t have an office. (0:38) Hold on, hold on, hold on.
Let me get you. You say you’re a politician. So politicians don’t pay tax? (0:46) I don’t have work.
(0:47) Okay, you don’t have work. (0:49) I don’t have work. It’s when I got nominated into the river bank.
(0:52) So since you don’t have work, you have not been paying tax or taxes since 2018 to date? That’s what you are saying. (1:01) Is it only when you have work that you get income? You don’t have any business? (1:06) Mr. Speaker, I think tax is generated from your income. (1:10) You have not had any income since 2018 to date? (1:24) No income.
That’s what you’re telling the reverse people. (1:27) I was a member, a commissioner in the Riverside House of Asset and Service Commission. (1:31) When were you? Hold on.
You were a local government caretaker committee member, right? (1:37) I was just three months in. (1:38) When? When was that? (1:40) I think November last year. (1:42) When was that? (1:44) November.
(1:45) When? Now what year? (1:47) 2025. (1:48) You were not paid salary? (1:51) Were you not paid salary when you were a caretaker committee? (1:56) You were paid. (1:56) You were paid.
Is that not income? (1:59) But you said you have not earned any income from 2018 to date as a politician. (2:07) So no tax clearance. And that’s what you’re telling the Rivers people.
(2:11) Madam, that is not nice. (2:12) You are misleading the 10th Riverside House of Assembly. (2:15) I’m sorry, Mr. Speaker, but I think I can still go back to politics.
(2:20) No, but you said you have not earned any income now. (2:22) It’s not that. (2:23) Time.
(2:23) Time to be corrected. (2:26) Any questions?
Watch the drama below:
