VAT row: Supreme Court fixes May 6 for ruling

The Supreme Court has fixed May 6 for ruling on an appeal by the Rivers State Government against the Federal Inland Revenue Service over the Value Added Tax collection by the state.

A panel of justices led by Justice Olukayode Ariwoola on Monday fixed the date after parties adopted their briefs of argument on the matter. 

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The Court of Appeal in Abuja had, on September 10, 2021, ordered status quo in the laws by states to collect the VAT in their domain. 

The Rivers State Government had then filed the appeal challenging the appellate court’s order for status quo in the matter. 

The FIRS had filed the appeal at the Court of Appeal challenging an order of a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt on August 9, 2021 which upheld the powers of the Rivers State Government to collect VAT and Personal Income Tax.

Following the appeal, the appellate court ruled that status quo be maintained in the law passed by both Rivers and Lagos State Houses of Assembly assented by both state governors for the collection of VAT.