Southern Governors’ Position On 2023 Presidency, Contradicts The Constitution – NSGF

BY VICTOR BUORO, ABUJA – The Northern States Governors’ Forum on Monday rose from its meeting in Kaduna declaring that the position of the Southern Governors Forum that power must shift to the South in 2023 is contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended. Contrast

This was as Forum also said that Value Added Tax (VAT), is not a production tax like excise, but a terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer.

The Northern Governors in a resolutions signed by its Chairman, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State, noted that the provisions of the Constitution clearly states that an elected President shall score the majority votes, score at least 25% of the votes cast in 2/3 States of the Federation and in case of run-up, simple majority will win the election.

The Forum said it appreciated the ongoing onslaught against banditry, kidnapping and Boko Haram especially in the North-east and parts of North-west and North Central States and 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.

While reviewing the security updates from the region,  the Forum observed the need for a sustained synergy and coordinated efforts between the Federal and Northern States Governments even as it noted success of recent measures.

The Forum further states; “The Northern State Governors Forum considered the on-going 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-judiced we however for the purposes of educating the public make the following observations:

“The judgement 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 Inlands 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 taxation will result in increases of prices of goods and services and collapsed in interstate trade.

“Another confusion is ignoring observation above and its overall effect. The reason Lagos account for our 50% Vat collection is because 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 judgement on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is sub judice and Northern States Governors Forum would respect this,” the Forum said.

The Forum decried the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some Judicial Officers in releasing/ granting bail to arrested criminals, stressing that such attitude sabotages the fight against criminality.

The Forum noted the ugly trend in the spread of drugs and consumption amongst the teeming youth and therefore, called on all levels of Governments and communities to rise to the occasion by stemming the tide.

The Forum also call the Federal Government to expedite action on the well establish National Livestock Transformation Programme as a spring board in transiting from the open grazing system as widely practice in the North