The governors of Nigeria's southern states have indicated their support for state governments collecting Value Added Tax (VAT).
Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu stated this while reading a communiqué at the end of a governors' meeting on Thursday in Enugu.
Mr Akeredolu stated that the governors resolved and reiterated that the collection of VAT was within the purview of state governments.
“We agreed to endorse the stance that VAT collection is under the purview of the state.
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The conference reiterated its previous commitments to fiscal federalism and emphasized the need of pursuing its incorporation into the Nigerian Constitution through the ongoing constitutional amendment process," he added.
Some southern states, like as Rivers and Lagos, have already passed VAT legislation, while others are in the process of doing so.
Mr Akeredolu encouraged southern states to utilise the expertise of their legislatures and representation in the National Assembly to achieve the aim.
He stated that the conference evaluated the status of the nation as well as the progress achieved in implementing the ban on open grazing of cattle in southern Nigeria.
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The conference expressed pleasure with the rate at which governments in Nigeria's south are revising or implementing anti-open grazing legislation.
“This accords with the standard pattern and desire of southern governors, and we encourage the states that have yet to implement the law to do so as soon as possible.”
“The summit resolved to support the full operationalization of the previously agreed regional security, which will exchange intelligence and work to ensure the region's safety and security,” he added.
Mr Akeredolu stated that the governors were pleased with the way the Nigerian Governors Forum handled problems relating to the Petroleum Industry Act and ownership of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation.
“The meeting restated its previous stance that the next president of Nigeria would come from the south in accordance with the politics of equality, justice, and fairness,” he added.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), nine governors and seven deputy governors from the 17 southern Nigerian states attended the conference.
Governors in attendance included Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Nyesom Wike of Rivers, Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos
and Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta.
Governors Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo State), Adegboyega Oyetola (Osun State), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), and Dapo Abiodun were also present (Ogun State).
Bisi Egbeyemi (Ekiti State), Rauf Olaniyan (Oyo State), Kelechi Igwe (Ebonyi), Ude Oko-Chukwu (Abia), Philip Shuaibu (Edo), Ivara Esu (Cross River), and Placid Njoku (Cross River) were among the deputy governors present (Imo).
The state of Anambra was not represented at the summit.
NAN also adds that the next governors' meeting would be held in Rivers in November.
The donors had previously met in Asaba, Delta State, and Lagos.
They advocated for a ban on open grazing and a transfer in presidential authority to the south in 2023, among other things, at the sessions.
