VAT: Group Asks South-east Govs. To Emulate Wike

By Uche Mbah

The Igbo National Movement, INM, Friday, called on Southeast Governors to brace up and reject the collection of the Value Added Tax, VAT, by the Federal Government.

The call was made on behalf of the group by the National Convener, Anthony Okolo, in Owerri, in reaction to the steps taken by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, to stop FG, from collecting VAT, in Rivers State, claiming Rivers state has led the way.

“By successfully putting the case against the Federal Government’s unjust usurpation of the States’ rights to collect taxes in their area of jurisdiction, Rivers state has led the way in revealing that the Federal Government is involved in one of the greatest acts of fraud and larceny against the indigenous nationals of Nigeria”, he said in a statement.

“It cannot also be viewed as justice to deny a State that has spent millions in developing planned neighborhoods and estates, the full value of their investment, under the guise of remittance of Value Added Tax, to the Federal Government who has neither spent a dime in development of that neighborhood nor is committed to returning the value remitted to it, back to the State for re-investment in more infrastructure.

“We call on other governors in the South East as well as the State Houses of Assembly to support and imbibe the courage of Wike to do the same in their States affirming that the zone will have greater improvement in infrastructural development.

“We can, therefore, allow my mind, to play over the opportunities which supporting this stance will bring to our people. By supporting this just stand, we can ensure that the much-needed capital for infrastructure projects that are needed in Ala-Igbo can be kept within our States.”

“This will mean that our State Governors will be more able to pay salaries, meet their pension commitments, activate welfare projects, and sustain their policies which are geared at creating a better life for our people. It will mean fewer trips to Abuja to beg for money that is by right already ours.

“It will mean the establishment of hospitals, roads, schools, and security installations to ward off the terrorist organizations that threaten our safety and security. These things can be achieved if our Governors follow the path of truth and if our legislators are brave to fight the good fight to secure the future of our children.” Okolo insisted.

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Friday joined Wike to sign the Bill into law. However, same Friday, in an appeal filed at the Court of Appeal by the FIRS, against the judgment of the Rivers High Court, the three-member Panel of Judges, stopped Rivers State from the VAT collection and ordered a return to statusquo until the substantive case is resolved. Lagos has applied as a joiner, and the case adjourned till September 16 for hearing.