Rivers Assembly commissioner nominee Charity Deemua questioned over outdated tax clearance, sparking debate on politicians’ earnings and accountability

Rivers State House of Assembly Speaker Martin Amaewhule confronted commissioner nominee Charity Deemua over her outdated tax clearance certificate during a screening session for Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s proposed nominees.

Also read: Rivers Assembly Begins Screening Governor Fubara’s Commissioner Nominees

Video footage circulating online shows Amaewhule pressing Deemua on the absence of a current tax clearance, pointing out that she had allegedly not paid taxes since 2018.

“I just wanted to know, so there’s no current tax clearance. Madam has not been paying tax since 2018. I just wanted to know if she’s been exempted from paying taxes,” Amaewhule said.

Deemua explained that she had not had a steady source of income in recent years, stating, “Like I said before, I’m a politician, I don’t have work.”

She noted prior brief service as a commissioner in the Rivers State House of Assembly Service Commission and as a local government caretaker committee member for three months in November 2025.

The Speaker challenged her claim of no income, noting that she had received payment during her caretaker committee tenure.

“You were paid? Yes. Is that not income? But you said you have not had any income from 2018 to date as a politician. Madam, that is not nice. You are misleading the 10th Rivers State House of Assembly,” Amaewhule said.

Deemua apologised and offered to address the issue further but was interrupted as the session moved to the next nominee.

Also read: Fubara Urges Peaceful Rivers By-Election Participation

The exchange has since generated online discussion, with many Nigerians questioning the transparency and accountability of politicians who claim to have no work while receiving public funds.