VAT: South South governors join suit in Supreme Court

Governors of South South states  have unequivocally supported the decisions of states to collect Value Added Tax and resolved to join the suit at the Supreme Court.

The governors, under the platform of South South Governors Forum, in a communique read by Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa  at the end of their meeting hosted by  Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State in Port Harcourt on Monday, said they are in total support of collection of VAT by states and will follow the matter to its logical end in the Supreme Court.

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The governors also said they have approved the regional security architecture which it said  will be launched soon.

The communique also stated thus: “We Unequivocally support the decisions of states to collect Value Added Tax and resolve to join the suit at the Supreme Court.

“Council urged the president and the National Assembly to take some measures to review some unfair aspects of the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill to ensure fairness and equity. It urged that the amendment should include the clear definition of host communities and that the trustees should be appointed by state governments.

“Council calls upon the president and the federal government to uphold the law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission by appropriately constituting its board in addition we express the hope that the federal government will make the forensic audit report publicly and deal justly and fairly with the report with a view to strengthening the capacity of NDDC to meet its obligations to the people of the region.

“Council regretted that the president and the federal government have entirely failed to give considerations to requests made by the region during the dialogue with a special federal delegation led by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the President. “Notable among the requests were the relocations of NNPC subsidiaries and IOC headquarters to the region and the completion of a number of federal projects in the region notably roads.”