Featured
S’South Govs To Join VAT Case At S’Court
Governors of South-South states of Nigeria have resolved to join the suit currently before the Supreme Court of Nigeria over collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) between Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and Rivers State Government.
The governors declared that they unequivocally support collection of VAT by state governments in Nigeria.
This is part of the six-point communique read out to journalists by Delta State Governor and Chairman of South-South Governors’ Forum, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, who presided over the meeting of the South-South Governors’ Forum at the Government House, Port Harcourt, last Monday.
“The BRACED Council met on Monday, October 4th, 2021. After an extensive deliberation, the council resolved; unequivocally supports the decision for states to collect Value Added Tax, and resolved to join the suit before the Supreme Court.”
The meeting,hosted by Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike; was also attended by Akwa Ibom State Governor, Emmanuel Udom; Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki; and Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri; also approved the South-South regional security architecture which would be launched very soon.
This is predicated on the fact that most of the BRACED Commission states have already established their state security outfits.
The BRACED Council called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Government to uphold the tenets of the law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) by appropriately constituting its board.
In addition, the council expressed hope that the Federal Government would make the forensic audit report on the NDDC public and be courageous enough to deal justly and fairly with those found culpable in the report with a view to strengthening the capacity of NDDC to meet its obligations to the people of the region.
Also contained in the communique is the demand by the council on President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly to take necessary measures to review some unfair aspects of the recently signed Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) in the spirit of fairness and equity.
“It (council) urged that the amendment should include clear definition of host community and that the trustees should be appointed by state governments.
“Council regretted that the president and the Federal Government have generally failed to give reasonable consideration to requests made by the region during the dialogue with the special federal delegation led by Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.
“Notable among the requests was the relocation of the NNPC subsidiaries and IOCs headquarters to the Niger Delta, and completion of a number of federal projects in the region, notably roads”, the communiqué indicated.
The council, however, expressed its appreciation to the host governor, for his warm hospitality and the success of the region.
It also commended the director general of the commission for his commitment to the region’s aspirations.
All the BRACED governors except Cross River State’s Prof Ben Ayade were present at the meeting.
The Director-General, BRACED Commission, Joe Keshi, was also present at the meeting.
The BRACED commission comprising the six South-South states of Bayelsa, Rivers, AkwaIbom, Cross River, Edo and Delta, is an initiative to foster integration, socio-economic and infrastructural development of the region.
Titled, “Communique of the Meeting of the South-South (BRACED) Governors Council held at the Rivers State Government House, Port Harcourt on Monday, October 4, 2021”, it reads in full: “The BRACED Governors’ Council met on Monday, October 4, 2021 at the Conference Room of the Rivers State Governor’s House, Port Harcourt.
“The meeting was presided over by Chairman of Council and Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
“Also in attendance were the governors of Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Edo.
“After extensive deliberation, the Council resolved: Bearing in mind that most of the BRACED states have established their state security organs, approved the regional security architecture which would be launched soon.
“Unequivocally supports the decision for states to collect Value Added Tax (VAT) and resolved to join the suit before the Supreme Court.
Council urged the President and the National Assembly to take necessary measures to review some unfair aspects of the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill to ensure fairness and equity. It urged that the amendment should include a clear definition of host communities and that the trustees should be appointed by state governments.
“Council called upon the President and the federal government to uphold the law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission by appropriately constituting its board. In addition, it expressed the hope that the Federal Government would make the forensic audit report public and deal justly and fairly with the report with a view to strengthening the capacity of the NDDC to meet its obligations to the people of the region.
“Council regretted that the President and the Federal Government had generally failed to give reasoned consideration to requests made by the region during the dialogue with a special federal delegation led by Chief of Staff to the President, Prof Ibrahim Gambari.
“Notable among the requests were the relocation of NNPC subsidiaries and IOCs headquarters to the Niger Delta and the completion of a number of Federal projects in the region, notably, roads.
“At the end of deliberations, council expressed its appreciation to the chairman and commended the host governor for his warm hospitality and the success of the meeting.
“It commended the Director-General of the commission for his unwavering commitment to the region’s aspiration and the work of the commission done at Port Harcourt this day, Monday, October 4, 2021″.
Fubara gave the assurance last Friday at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, Nonwa-Gbam, Tai Local Government Area in the State, during the swearing-in ceremony of 2026 Batch B Stream II orientation course.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Cabinet Bureau, Office of the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Promise Oguzie, the governor said the State Government would remain intentional in providing the necessary support to improve the NYSC scheme and enhance the experiences of corps members deployed to the state.
He charged the corps members to be role models and quality nation-builders in their service to the good people of Rivers State in particular, and Nigeria at large.
“I charge you to be exemplary, dedicated and committed in all you do. Take full advantage of all the camp programmes and activities to enrich yourselves”, he said.
In his welcome address, the State Coordinator of NYSC in Rivers State, Mr. Moses Oleghe, urged corps members to see their deployment to Rivers State as a “veritable opportunity to make meaningful contribution to the growth of the State in particular and Nigeria at large.”
He further charged them to serve with all sense of “integrity, discipline, and the fear of God, especially when they will be engaged as INEC ad-hoc staff that will conduct the 2027 general elections.”
A total of 3,584 corps members composed of 1,421 males and 2,163 females were sworn in by the Chief Judge of Rivers State, who was represented by Justice Godspower Aguma.
The Governor stated this yesterday when he received in audience, the World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler; his wife, Andriene Marques Kohler; daughter Mariana Marques Kohler and a retinue of ministers of the church at Government House, Port Harcourt.
Fubara who hailed the Seventh Day Adventist Church for its contributions to education and the grooming of future leaders in Nigeria, expressed delight that the Church had over the years, been investing in education at various levels and currently runs two universities in the country.
He commended the church for not only using its institutions to spread the gospel of Christianity but to groom future leaders for the country.
According to him, religion should not be just about defending one’s faith, but also making meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
He said that by floating these educational institutions, the church has demonstrated capacity to support Nigeria in the task of producing not only educated people but a breed of God-fearing leaders.
“Our country is where it is today because we lack the fear of God. If you have the fear of God, there should be a limit to what you can do because you understand the supremacy of God. But when God is not in your equation, you’ll go beyond the line and that is what has brought us to where we are today.
“So, I feel very happy that you are contributing to the development of our future leaders in this country. We need the right people being in the right place; prepared properly with good minds; that is what we need, not just in Nigeria but round the whole world.,” he said.
Governor Fubara further observed that the absence of God-fearing people in high places to take the right decisions that could impact positively on the society, has also given rise to other problems such as social inequality, poverty, corruption and criminality. According to him, Nigeria needs a system where the average parent could afford quality education for their children and a guarantee that upon graduation, the average child will have the capacity to compete favourably with anybody, anywhere in the world.
“If we have a situation where the little money that you’re being paid as wage can also afford you quality healthcare and after working at least for 15-20 years, you have a roof over your head, tell me why you should be involved in any kind of crime? At that point, you’ll feel secured and this attitude of insecurity about the future that leads to all the social vices we have today won’t be there,” he said.
Governor Fubara expressed appreciation to the delegation for the visit and for their prayers for Rivers State, assuring them of his continued support for their programmes in the state.
Leader of the delegation and World President of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Pastor Erton Kohler said he was in Nigeria for a special conference of the church during which thousands of the church’s ministers will be undergoing an empowerment programme to further equip them for the task of herding their flocks and serving the society.
He expressed gratitude to the Governor for the warm reception accorded his entourage, saying the memory of the visit will linger in his mind for a lifetime.
Kohler disclosed that the Church has over twenty -four million (24,000,000) members and more than 182,000 places of worship, spread across 212 countries of the world.
This reaffirms the lawmakers’ commitment to enacting laws and taking legislative actions geared towards the overall development of the State.
The Assembly gave the approval during its Second Legislative Sitting of the Fourth Session held last Friday.
Speaking on the MTEF document during plenary, the House Speaker, Rt. Hon. Martin Amaewhule, noted that by the provision of Section 10(1)(b) of the Rivers State Fiscal Responsibility Law No. 8 of 2010, the MTEF ought to have been laid before the House in September 2025.
Amaewhule explained that traditionally, the document is expected to be presented four months before the commencement of the next financial year and immediately after the expiration of every three-year fiscal cycle.
He, however, stated that in the interest of the State and its people, the House considered it necessary to deliberate on the document, describing it as a precursor to the 2026 Budget Estimates.
The Speaker expressed concern that the year had already progressed significantly before the presentation of the framework.
During deliberations on the document, members examined the assumptions and projections contained in the MTEF and observed that strict adherence to the outlined fiscal parameters would ultimately serve the interest of Rivers people.
The lawmakers maintained that effective implementation of the framework would promote prudent financial management and enhance developmental planning across the State.
Following the debate and positive consideration by members, the Speaker put the question to the House and members voted overwhelmingly in support of the approval of the MTEF.
Meanwhile, during the same sitting last Friday, the House also received a petition from the Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Dr. Gift Worlu.
The petition was presented by the member representing Obio/Akpor Constituency II, Hon. Emilia Amadi.
According to the petition, concerns were raised over an imminent security breach, threats to lives, destruction of property and alleged forceful takeover of property by some lawless persons within parts of the Local Government Area.
Presenting the petition before the House, Hon. Amadi appealed to the lawmakers to revisit the matter and take necessary steps aimed at safeguarding lives and property in the affected communities.
The House is expected to further deliberate on the petition and consider measures to address the concerns raised in order to sustain peace and security in the area.
King Onunwor