A chieftain of the Ijaw Youth Council worldwide, Chief Frank Akiefa, has called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to add his voice to the demands for States to collect Value Added Tax.
Recall that governors, particularly of the South have demanded for states to collection of VAT an exclusive right.
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State have both signed bills into law towards that effect.
While the Court of Appeal has ordered for both States to maintain status quo pending an appeal by the Federal Internal Service, the agitation gathers momentum by the day.
Speaking with Daily Report Nigeria on Monday, Akiefa wondered why Governor Okowa is silent over an as serious as VAT collection.
He called for the governor to kick-start a VAT bill process in the state without further delays.
“The Governor has overtime lamented that the State has no enough money to pursue development and it is evident that collection of VAT will make more money available.
“I am wondering why he is silent on a very serious and important issue as this. It is high time Governor Okowa pushes for a VAT Bill in Delta State,” Akiefa said.
Meanwhile, the Southern Governors’ Forum, in it’s meeting held in Enugu on September 16, declared support for states to collect the Value Added Tax (VAT).
However, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi has distanced himself from their resolution, telling his Southern colleagues to be their ‘brothers keepers.’
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