…Resolve To Join VAT Dispute In Supreme Court
The South-South Governors Forum on Monday met in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital with resolutions bothering on security, Value Added Tax (VAT), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Petroleum Industry Act, taken.
The meeting which held at Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday, had in attendance host Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike, Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Delta Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa; Governor of Akwa Ibom, Emmanuel Udom and Governor Duoye Diri of Bayelsa State as well as the Director General of the BRACED Council, Amb. Joe Keshi.
The Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade was not present at the meeting, neither did he send his deputy to represent him.
The forum which met at Governor Wike’s official residence at Government House, came up with a communique after the meeting which was read by their Chairman, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.
First and foremost, Okowa revealed that the Council resolved to complement the efforts of the states and approved a state security architecture for the region which will be unveiled very soon.
On the recently passed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the Council urged President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to take necessary measures to review what they said were unfair aspects of the Act to ensure fairness and equity.
“We urge that the amendment should include a clear definition of host communities and that trustees should be appointed by state governments”, the communiques declared.
Further resolutions in the communique include: “Council calls upon the President and the federal government of Nigeria to uphold the law establishing the NDDC by appropriately constituting its Board”, adding that the President should also make the forensic audit report public and deal justly and fairly with the report with a view to strengthening the capacity of NDDC to make its obligations to the people of the region.
The governor also expressed regret that the federal government failed to give reasoned consideration to requests made by the Council through the Chief of Staff to the President.
“Notable among the requests was the relocation of NNPC subsidiaries and IOC headquarters to the Niger Delta and the completion of a number of federal projects in the region, notably roads”, they said.
Meanwhile, the governors also resolved to join the suit currently before the Supreme Court of Nigeria over collection of the Value Added Tax (VAT) between the Federal Inland Service (FIRS) and Rivers State.
The governors declared that they unequivocally support collection of VAT by State governments in Nigeria.
