Kogi state government says it “will not jump on the
bandwagon” of Lagos and Rivers in the bid to make the collection of value-added
tax (VAT) exclusive for states.
Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, was the first to assent the
VAT bill on August 20 — just 10 days after a federal high court issued an order
restraining the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) from collecting the tax
in the state.
On Thursday, Lagos state house of assembly also passed the
bill after a unanimous vote by the lawmakers, and a copy has been sent to
Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos governor, for his assent.
The development has generated mixed reactions across the
country.
In a chat with Arise TV on Friday, Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi’s
commissioner for information and communication, said despite its “advantages”,
the state opposes the move.
He said “we are not created equally, and God that created us
did not give us equal potential, and we have to support one another”.
The commissioner then added, “this call shows that some of
our leaders are insensitive, self-centred and trying to make policies that will
further divide the country”.
“Kogi is bordered by about 10 states of the federation and a
gateway to the north, south, to everywhere. And you know that thousands of
vehicles transverse the state on a daily basis. It’s the mineral capital of
Nigeria. When you look at our advantages, we should even be at the forefront of
fighting for VAT to be completely retained in the state,” Fanwo said.
“But I think we should take it beyond this when you look at
the development of the south-west in those days — the cocoa house — and the
groundnut pyramids in the north, the whole of Nigeria is reaping the benefit
till today. And what we need to do at this material time as leaders is to stop
thinking about ourselves alone.
“The position of governor Yahaya Bello on this is very
clear: we will not jump on that bandwagon to call for the retention of VAT
completely in the state. We are not created equally, and God that created us
did not give us equal potentials, and we have to support one another.”
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