By Cajetan Mmuta
Southern Governors yesterday (Thursday) met in Enugu where they declared that it is within their purview to collect the Value Added Tax.
This is coming amid a row between the Rivers State Government and the Federal Government, a case that is now subject to litigation.
The governors also reaffirmed their stand on the open-grazing ban, urging every State in the region to quickly pass a law to that effect.
A communiqué issued by the governors at the end of the meeting was read by Chairman of the Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, (SAN)
Also present at the meeting were Governors Ifeanyi Okowa, (Delta), Babajide Sanwolu, (Lagos), Gbenga Oyetola, (Osun), Emmanuel Udom, (Akwa Ibom), Nyesom Wike, (Rivers), Dapo Abiodun, (Ogun ), and the host Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State.
Deputy Governors present included Rauf Olaniyan, Oyo, Bisi Egbeyemi, Ekiti, Philip Shuaib, Edo, Ude Okochukwu, Abia, Kelechi Igwe, Ebonyi, Placid Njoku, Imo.
The communiqué read in full; that The Nigerian Southern Governors’ Forum at its meeting of today, Thursday, 16th September 2021 held in the Government House, Enugu, Enugu State reviewed the state of the nation and the progress of implementation of the decisions reached in her previous meetings and further resolved as follows:
They expressed satisfaction with the rate at which the States in Southern Nigeria are enacting or amending the Anti- Open Grazing Laws which align with the uniform template and aspiration of Southern Governors and encouraged the states that are yet to enact this law to do so expeditiously.
The governor’s also encouraged the full operationalization of already agreed regional security outfits; which would meet, share intelligence and collaborate, to ensure the security and safety of the region.
They further reaffirmed its earlier commitment to Structural and fiscal federalism as resolved at the inaugural meeting of the Forum held on Tuesday, 11th May 2021 at Asaba, Delta State, and emphasized the need for the Southern States to leverage the legislative competence of their respective State Houses of Assembly as well as representation in the National assembly to pursue its inclusion in the Nigeran Constitution through the ongoing constitutional amendment.
That following from paragraph 3″ above, the meeting resolved to support the position that the collection of VAT falls within the powers of the States.
Israeli army heads to people’s homes to care for COVID-19 patients
The southern governors expressed satisfaction with the handling of issues around the Petroleum Industry ACT (PIA) and ownership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) by the larger Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
They reiterated their earlier position that the next President of Nigeria must come from the Southern part of Nigeria in line with politics of equity, justice, and fairness.
The Forum further thanked the host Governor, Rt. Hon. IfeanyiUgwuanyi, and chose Rivers State as the next host for the Southern Governors’ Forum meeting in November 2021.
