Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers Meet In Kaduna Over VAT, Insecurity And Others

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Northern Governors, Traditional Rulers Meet In Kaduna Over VAT, Insecurity And Others
A cross section of northern leaders during the meeting.

Northern Governors’ Forum and traditional rulers from the region are holding an emergency meeting in Kaduna State.

Top on the agenda at the meeting are issues relating to Value Added Tax (VAT), insecurity and economic problems confronting the region.

The meeting, which is taking place at Executive Council Chamber of Kaduna State Government House, is chaired by Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong.

Read Also: Appeal Court Stops Rivers, Lagos From Collecting VAT Pending Determination Of Case

Those in attendance include the governors of Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Borno, Nasarawa, Jigawa and Gombe.

The governors of Niger, Kogi, Benue, Niger, Zamfara and Taraba states are represented by their deputies.

Read Also: Breaking: Lagos Assembly Passes VAT, Anti-Open Grazing Bills

The deputy governor of Kogi State, Edward Onoja and others during the meeting.

Also present are Sultan of Sokoto and the Chairman of Northern Traditional Rulers Council, Abubakar Saad.

The Shehu of Borno, the Emir of Zazzau, Nuhu Bamali, Estu Nupe, Emir of Kano and other royal fathers are also attending the meeting.

Read Also: ‘Rivers Is Challenging FIRS From Collecting VAT’ – Wike

In his remark, the host governor, Nasir El-Rufai said the northern region is facing severe economic and security challenges that require the convening of the emergency meeting between the governors and traditional rulers.

The governors and traditional rulers are expected to take a string of decisions during the meeting.

According to El-Rufai, the forum will help chart a way forward to deal with these issues.

While highlighting the agenda for the meeting, the chairman of the forum, Simon Lalong, disclosed that the governors will take a common position on VAT collection and the surrounding controversies.

Read Also: Breaking: Sanwo-Olu Signs VAT Bill Into Law

Last month, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt had in a judgement held that Rivers State has the power to collect VAT within its jurisdiction.

However, Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) challenged the judgement of the lower court at the Appeal Court.

Read Also: VAT Collection Dispute: Rivers Govt Files Appeal At Supreme Court

At the Court of Appeal, Lagos State also filed an application to be joined with Rivers State as co-defendant in the appeal filed by FIRS.

After debates and deliberations, the Appeal Court ordered parties in the suit to maintain status quo pending the determination of the appeal.

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