Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has thrown his weight behind the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), as he notes that the agency should be in charge of the collection of value-added tax (VAT), which would, in turn, be redistributed to states across the country.
The governor made this assertion in opposition to that of his counterpart, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who expressed that VAT should be collected by states and not the FIRS.
Umahi, while speaking during a state dinner organized in honor of former Chief of Army Staff and Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Tukur Buratai, noted that the importance of speaking up against evil, while expressing Ebonyi state’s support to receive VAT from FIRS.
In his words, he said, “Evil will continue to thrive if good people keep quiet. We must make Ebonyi State very exceptional by rising to the challenges,”
“Ebonyi state is not in support of any state collecting VAT. We are in support that FIRS should continue to collect tax and share.”
He expressed that his support anchors on true federalism, which should be channeled to administrative restructuring as he urged leaders to stand against anything that can cause the nation its peace.
Meanwhile, Rivers, Lagos, and Ogun states have proceeded on signing and enacting the state VAT bill into law, which gives them the power to collect VAT within their territory.
Ogun State, who joined the race on Tuesday to legalize VAT collection, has passed the bill for second reading at the state house of assembly.
