VAT: Governor Bello Accuses Wike, Sanwo Olu Of Insensitivity

By Akinwale Kasali

Faced with a bleak future, financial-wise, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State came down hard on his colleague-Governors, Nyesom Wike and Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Rivers and Lagos States, respectively. He accused them of  insensitivity.

And what was their crime?

Both men say they are fighting for true federalism. And fighting against what they perceive as brazen injustice.

Problem started when the two Governors signed into law, the bill passed by their States Houses of Assembly, that the States collect Value Added Tax, VAT, from businesses located in their States,  instead of the taxes going to the Federal Government through the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS.

Rivers began the move by approaching the Court for a legal interpretation of the situation. The State won. Then, in an explanation that shocked many, Wike made public facts and figures.

For instance, he explained that in June, for example, Rivers collected the sum of N15.1b, and was given about N4.6b by the FG. Lagos collected about N15b, and was given about N9b, while Kano collected N2.6b, and was given N2.6b.

The Court upheld Rivers. A stay of execution filed by FIRS was rejected. Lagos, on Friday, signed theirs into law. But same Friday, the Court of Appeal stopped both States from collecting VAT until the substantive case is disposed of.

Lagos has applied to join Rivers in the case.

But Bello slammed the duo of  Wike and  Sanwo-Olu.

Speaking on Arise TV, Kogi State Commissioner of Information, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed that the North-central state would not join Lagos and Rivers in its move against the FIRS.

According to Fanwo, the move by the two states will only further divide the Nation.

The Commissioner noted that “we are not created equally, and God did not give us equal potential.

“This call shows that some of our leaders are insensitive, self-centred and trying to make policies that will further divide the country.

“Kogi is bordered by about 10 states of the Federation and a gateway to the North, South, to everywhere. And you know that thousands of vehicles transverse the State on a daily basis. It’s the mineral capital of Nigeria. When you look at our advantages, we should even be at the forefront of fighting for VAT to be completely retained in the state.

The Gombe State Governor, however, toed a different line. He asked Rivers and Lagos to be their “brothers’ keeper.”