Nyesom Wike, governor of Rivers, has appealed to the supreme
court to give the case before it concerning the collection of value-added tax
(VAT) between his state and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the
urgency it requires.
Wike made the appeal at the march-past and parade in
commemoration of the 62nd independence anniversary of Nigeria in Port Harcourt
on Saturday.
According to a statement from Kelvin Ebiri, his special
adviser on media, he said such urgency and eventual ruling of the case in
favour of the state, would further add more financial resources that will
accelerate the economic growth of Rivers.
“We have also not given up in our determination to right the
injustice associated with the collection and distribution of value-added taxes
generated from the state by the federal government, just as we again, call on
the supreme court to please, treat this matter with the urgency that it
requires,” Wike was quoted as saying.
The issue of VAT collection had generated a legal battle
between FIRS and some state governments.
Rivers and Lagos state governments had enacted laws and
called for decentralisation of collection, while some states pushed for
centralised collection.
But in September last year, a court of appeal directed the
states to maintain status quo pending the determination of an appeal filed by
FIRS.
Not satisfied with the injunction, the Rivers state
government filed the matter before the supreme court.
The case is still in court.
Wike said since 1999 that the country returned to democracy,
it has continued to witness deliberate constitutional distortions,
institutional weaknesses and widespread corruption that have prevented
Nigerians from enjoying a robust democratic practice.
He highlighted the absence of a free and fair elections, the
rule of law, and social justice as part of experiences that are yet to take
root in Nigeria.
“This is not to say
that Nigeria has not made any progress as a nation,” the governor said.
“Certainly, we have achieved some visible developmental
strides and economic progress as Africa’s largest economy.
“The fact that we have remained together despite the
recurrent conflicts and crisis of confidence is also worth celebrating as an
achievement.
“But, after 62 years, Nigeria deserves more than what it has
achieved and Nigerians likewise deserve much more than what their leaders have
delivered to them with the country’s enormous natural and human resources.”
Wike bemoaned the “inability” of the federal government, led
by All Progressives Congress (APC), over the last seven years, to keep the economic
and social conditions within Nigeria from deteriorating.
He pointed to such inability as evidence that the APC-led
federal government is totally bereft of measures it could take to stem or
ameliorate the predicaments they have visited on Nigerians.
“Life is sacrosanct,
but the present federal government has failed in the most basic duty to the
nation to protect the lives and property of its citizens,” Wike said.
“Under their watch, infrastructure across all sectors,
including roads, education and healthcare has collapsed. Tertiary education has
remained comatose for over seven months and with no employment opportunities,
the federal government continues to toy with the future of the youths.”
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