David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, says the state is not in
support of Lagos, Rivers, and other states in their bid to collect value-added
tax (VAT).
He said Ebonyi would continue to stick up for VAT collection
by the Federal Inland Revenue (FIRS) and its subsequent distribution among the
36 states of the federation.
Since the Rivers state ruling, there has been a controversy
around VAT collection between FIRS and state governments.
Last week, the court of appeal in Abuja directed Rivers and
Lagos to maintain status quo (to maintain the situation as it existed before),
pending the determination of an appeal filed by FIRS.
But Rivers has asked the supreme court to set aside the
order of the appeal court.
Umahi, who spoke during a state dinner organised in honour
of Tukur Buratai, a former chief of army staff and Nigerian ambassador to the
Republic of Benin, said that true federalism should be administrative
restructuring.
“Evil will continue to thrive if good people keep quiet, we
must make Ebonyi State very exceptional by rising to the challenges,” Umahi
said.
“When we shout true federalism, I say, I agree; but it
should be administrative restructuring.
“Ebonyi state is not in support of any state collecting VAT.
We are in support that FIRS should continue to collect tax and share.”
The governor, while urging leaders to speak up against
dissenting voices that are capable of polarising the nation.
He said he was open to debate with any Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) governor who feels he has delivered more democracy dividends to his
citizens than the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in Ebonyi
State.
Apart from Ebonyi, Gombe state government had also called on
Lagos and Rivers governments to reconsider their resolution on collecting
value-added tax (VAT) in their states.
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