Etinan Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State has announced a full tax holiday for December 2025.
The move according to the Media Assistant to the Chairman, Otobong Nsekpong is expected to provide significant relief to traders, small business owners and transport operators operating within the council.
Nsekpong, in a statement made available to the media said, the directive was approved by the Chairman, Hon. Uko Umoh, who said the decision is aimed at supporting economic activities during the festive period and encouraging greater commercial participation across the communities that make up the LGA.
“The tax holiday takes immediate effect and brings to a temporary halt all activities of revenue agents who often serve as the primary enforcement channel for the council’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
“These agents are responsible for collecting a range of local government taxes and levies, including market stall dues, shop permits, motor park levies, haulage fees, operation permits for small businesses, and environmental sanitation charges.
With this new directive, no revenue agent is permitted to demand or collect any form of levy on behalf of the local government throughout December. The suspension applies across all sectors—marketplaces, transport unions, business premises and the informal trade corridors that form the backbone of Etinan’s internal revenue structure. Full revenue operations are scheduled to resume in January 2026”, the statement added.
Local government officials say the holiday is expected to ease financial pressure on micro and small enterprises, which contribute significantly to Etinan’s IGR.
Many of these businesses typically face increased operational costs during the end-of-year season. By waiving local taxes for one month, the council hopes to stimulate higher commercial turnover, encourage compliance in the new year, and build goodwill between the administration and the business community.
Hon. Uko Umoh extended his warmest wishes to all business owners, describing December 2025 as “a month to thrive without the usual tax burdens.”
He expressed optimism that the gesture would foster a more vibrant local economy and strengthen partnerships between the government and residents in the year ahead.
“We want December to be a season of prosperity for everyone doing business in Etinan,” the chairman said. “This holiday is our way of appreciating the resilience of our people and supporting their efforts to grow.”
The announcement has been widely welcomed across the LGA, with traders and transport operators praising the administration for what they describe as a timely and business-friendly intervention.
