By Israel Joel
The Northern States Governors’ Forum has appreciated the ongoing onslaught against banditry, kidnapping, and Boko Haram especially in the North East and parts of North West and the North Central States.
The meeting also noted with concern the constraint of the security services and urged the Armed Forces to embark on simultaneous operations and resolved to share the plans of the Frontline States come up with common with other Region, and assured of its readiness to work in synergy with the Federal Government of Nigeria in finding a lasting solution to the current security challenges.
They also encouraged the Armed forces and other security agencies to sustain the tempo to enable the security challenges to be permanently addressed in the shortest time.
The Governors made this known in their resolutions after an Emergency Meeting at the Council Chamber Sir, Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna.
The resolutions which were signed by Simon Lalong, the Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum and Governor of Plateau state reads that the meeting was attended by Chairmen of Northern States Traditional Council led by His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto.
It reads that “After extensive deliberations, the Forum reviewed security updates from the Region and observed the need for a sustained synergy and coordinated efforts between the Federal and Northern States Governments while noting the success of recent measures.
They also unanimously condemned the statement by the Southern Governors Forum that the Presidency must go to the Southern part of the country.
It reads that the Southern Governors statement is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall score the majority votes, as well as score at least 25% of the votes cast in 2/3 States of the Federation and in the case of run-up simple majority win the election.
The Forum observed that some Northern States Governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to three Geo-Political Zone in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the Nation.
The Forum discussed issues of Peace, Progress, Development, and well-being of the Northern States and took stock of progress made in handling challenges of Banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery, and insurgency.
They also received updates on the Renewable / Solar Energy Project and noted that requests for land for the project had been submitted and are being processed by the Northern States. The Committee had commenced negotiations in a public-private arrangement and sovereign guarantees to ensure bankability of the project by multilateral financial organizations.
The Forum further called on States yet to process the request for allocation of land for the project to expedite action.
The meeting also received updates on activities of some Committees constituted by the Northern States Governors’ Forum and noted that recommendations contained therein are being considered with a view to coming up with implementation strategies.
The Northern State Governors Forum also considered the ongoing National debate on the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT).
“As responsible leaders, while we are constraint by the fact that the matter is sub judice we however for the purposes of educating the public make the following observations, that the judgment of the Federal High Court calls to question the constitutionality of VAT, withholding tax, education tax, Niger Delta Development Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, 13% derivation, National Economic Development Council and many other currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service.
“Rivers and Lagos State Government had enacted their own VAT laws and the Southern Governors Forum have expressed support for this course of action;”
“VAT is being confused by these State Government as a sales tax. If every state enacted its own VAT Law, multiple taxations will result in increases in prices of goods and services and collapse in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer;”
They added that another confusion is ignoring the observation above and its “overall effect”. The reason Lagos account for our 50% Vat collection is that most of the telecommunication companies, Banks, manufacturing, and other trading activities have their headquarters in Lagos with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT”
“Until and unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgment on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is sub judice and Northern States Governors Forum would respect this.
The resolution also added that the Traditional Rulers Councils appreciated the efforts made so far by the NSGF in addressing the key areas of challenges facing the Northern States, they expressed their willingness, solidarity, and collaboration with the Governors’ in addressing these challenges particularly the issue of security. It was equally resolved that perpetrators of crimes should be dealt with irrespective of their status in society.
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The Forum decried the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some Judicial Officers in releasing/granting bail to arrested criminals. This attitude sabotages the fight against criminality, therefore, there the need to develop good and robust intelligence mechanisms amongst States was identified as a panacea.
The Forum also calls the Federal Government to expedite action on the well-establish National Livestock Transformation Programme as a springboard in transiting from the open grazing system as wide practice in the North.
They also noted the ugly trend in the spread of drugs and consumption amongst the teeming youth and therefore, calls on all levels of Governments and communities to rise to the occasion by stemming the tide.
The Forum further calls on Agencies to leave up to their responsibility, “Traditional rulers are to equally mobilize their various communities in checkmating the ugly trend of criminality in their domains.”
