Catholic Clergy Exposes Severe Economic Strain in Enugu as Overtaxation and Soaring Costs Overwhelm Citizens

The administrative claims regarding record revenue growth in Enugu State face strong moral and factual challenge following a detailed statement by Rev. Fr. Matthias Udonu, a Catholic priest with over 24 years of pastoral service in the state. Reacting to official narratives celebrating increased Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), Fr. Udonu outlined the severe economic burden imposed on ordinary citizens, landlords, and low-income earners.

​Drawing from pastoral experiences and direct field observation, Fr. Udonu highlighted critical structural pressures confronting households across Enugu:

The core observations raised regarding the human impact of the state's aggressive taxation policy include:

​Property Tax Hikes Driving Rent Inflation: Fr. Udonu cited specific instances where property tax assessments on residential duplexes jumped dramatically to ₦2.5 million annually. To cover these government levies, landlords are forced to increase annual rents from ₦1.5 million to ₦4 million, transferring the financial shock directly onto tenants.

​Aggressive Revenue Extraction from Low Earners: A visit to Ogbete Main Market revealed that even barrow pushers—many of whom are unemployed graduates struggling to earn a living—are subjected to mandatory daily taxes of ₦100 per trip, enforced by tax collectors stationed at market exits.

​Escalating Costs of Basic Services and Education: The statement questioned the accessibility of public initiatives, pointing out that high fees at specialized TVET colleges—costing upwards of ₦350,000 for enrollment and ₦200,000 per term—place modern technical education far out of reach for average and low-income families.

​Unresolved Pension Liabilities: Highlighting personal family experiences involving his late father, a retired headmaster who passed away waiting for unpaid benefits, Fr. Udonu criticized the administration's failure to clear long-standing gratuity arrears despite rising state revenue collections.

​Fr. Udonu’s testimony emphasizes that true economic progress cannot be measured solely by IGR charts or public relations statements, but by the tangible welfare, affordability, and quality of life experienced by ordinary citizens across Enugu State.