Latest News
Nigerians back Wike’s VAT war, a good step to restructuring
Nigerians are backing Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has started a mild revolution in what he called injustice in the country especially in the area of resource allocation.
Nigerians are backing Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike has started a mild revolution in what he called injustice in the country especially in the area of resource allocation.
While speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Wike ordered companies based in the state to start paying their Value Added Tax to the state government beginning this September.
Lamenting on the injustice in the country, he said Rivers State generated N15bn VAT revenue in June this year, but got N4.7bn in return, while Kano generated N2.8bn in the same month and got the same N2.8bn back.
Adding that N46.4bn was collected from Lagos State in the same month but the Federal Government gave Lagos N9.3bn. “Sometimes, you don’t want to believe these things exist.”
Yesterday, Kano’s Hisbah destroyed 5,760 Cartons Of Beer. Yet, Kano gets the lion’s share from VAT on beer. I’m with Wike! We must all insist on the rights of states to collect VAT as the court and law provides. The monkey should no longer work for the baboon to eat#TableShaker
— Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) September 9, 2021
Last month, the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt, in a judgment in suit number FHC/PH/CS/149/2020, held that the Rivers State Government had the powers to collect VAT within its territory.
Although the FIRS applied to the court for a stay of execution, Justice Stephen Pam rejected the application, saying granting it would negate the principle of equity.
Any northerner that's attacking Wike on this VAT issue does not mean well for his region. On this I'm with Wike 100%. Its time we look inwards & do some soul searching on how to revive our economic status in this country. To me, this is a wake up call to Arewa leaders & followers
— Peacock (@dawisu) September 9, 2021
In 6yrs, all Nigeria did was talk about Cow, RUGA, Miyetti Allah, Bandits, Herdsmen, Open Grazing Route & Reserve. Buhari introduced an aberration never seen before. He kept Nigerians busy with discussions that didn’t improve lives. I wish Wike started this VAT debate since 2015.
— NEFERTITI (@firstladyship) September 9, 2021
If Wike said he will lock up FIRS office in Rivers, he will. Nobody should dare him to. We are talking about someone that moves around with a machete. ??
— Lieut. Gen. Oluchi ?? ? (@General_Oluchi) September 9, 2021
Meanwhile, the Gombe State Governor Inuwa Yahaya has admonished Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos to back down on their demand for state administration of Value Added Tax (VAT) across the country, warning that such policy could leave people of his state worse off.
“The VAT issue will have adverse effects not only on Gombe State but almost all the states of the federation,” Mr Yahaya said at an event in which he was represented by Gombe finance commissioner Muhammad Magaji on Wednesday.