VAT Reform: Wike Gets Another Thumps Up From The North

Governor Nyesom Wike of River State has received thumps-up from another northerner over his insistence on collection of Value Added Tax in Imo.

Salihu Tanko Yakasai, a former Special Adviser on Media to Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, said the Southeast governor have his 100% support on VAT reform.

Naija News reports that Yakasai slammed northerners who are throwing insults on Wike for his commendable decision.

In a post via his social media page, Twitter precisely, Yakasai said those against Wike’s VAT reform from the northern region of the country do not mean well for the region.

The son of elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, tweeted, “Any northerner that’s attacking Wike on this VAT issue does not mean well for his region. On this, I’m with Wike 100%.

“It’s time we look(ed) inwards and 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 and followers.”

Naija News recalls that Yakasai was sacked for criticising President Muhammadu Buhari regime and the ruling All Progressives Congress government over the President’s inability to secure the country.

Meanwhile, Wike’s verdict on VAT began to receive massive commendation following the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt last month in a judgment in suit number FHC/PH/CS/149/2020.

The court sitting held that the Rivers State Government had the powers to collect VAT within its territory.

Although the Federal Inland Revenue Service applied to the court for a stay of execution, Justice Stephen Pam rejected the application, saying granting it would negate the principle of equity.

The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP governor had lamented the injustice in the country, noting that 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.

Wike mentioned 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,” he added.

The PDP chieftain had also assented to the Rivers State Value Added Tax Law 2021 in August after it was passed by the state House of Assembly.