North Rejects Power shift In 2023

North Rejects Power shift In 2023

The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), Monday, rose from its emergency meeting held in Kaduna State to carpet the position of their Southern counterparts that power must shift to the south, saying it is against the spirit and letter of the Constitution.

It also said it is sub-judice to act on the controversial Value Added Tax (VAT) while the case between Rivers State and the Federal Government is before the Supreme Court but went ahead to offer its position.

On open grazing, it called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the National Livestock Transformation Programme (NLTP).

Those in attendance include the governors of Katsina, Sokoto, Kaduna, Borno, Nasarawa, Jigawa and Gombe. The governors of Niger, Kogi, Benue, Zamfara and Taraba states were represented by their deputies.

In The meeting was also attended by chairmen of Northern States Traditional Council, led by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar 111.

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. And the forum will help chart a way forward to deal with these issues.

The 11-point resolutions were read by the chairman of the forum and Governor of Plateau State, Simon Lalong.

Commenting on the security situation of the region, the forum observed the need for a sustained synergy and coordinated efforts between the Federal and Northern states governments.

The meeting also noted with concern the constraint of the security services and urged the armed forces to embark on simultaneous operations.

However, chairman of the Southern Governors’ Forum and Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN), in a swift reaction last night, said the Northern governors should not be grudged for kicking against power shifting to the South in 2023.

Akeredolu, in a terse response through his Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, in Akure said that they have only exercised their right under freedom of expression.

He said: “On the Northern governors’ resolution, they have expressed and indeed exercised their rights under Freedom of Expression,” adding that “no one can stop them from expressing themselves.”

Reading the communiqué on behalf of the 19 Northern governors, Lalong said: “Some Northern States Governors had earlier expressed views for a power-shift to the three geo-political zones in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the nation.

“Notwithstanding their comments, the forum unanimously condemns the statement by the Southern Governors Forum that the Presidency must go to the South.

“The statement is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall: score the majority votes; score at least 25 per cent of the votes cast in 2/3 states of the federation. In the case of run-up, simple majority wins the election.”

On the controversy trailing the collection of VAT on which Lagos and Rivers States have made laws, he said: “As responsible leaders, while we are constrained by the fact that the matter is subjudice, we, however, for the purposes of educating the public make the following observations:

“The judgment 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 per cent derivation, National Economic Development Council and many others currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

“Rivers and Lagos State Governments 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 governments as a sales tax. If every state enacted its own VAT law, multiple taxations will result in increases in prices of goods and services and collapse in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax, which is paid by the ultimate consumer;

“Another confusion is ignoring the observation above and its ‘overall effect’. The reason Lagos accounts for our 50 per cent VAT collection is that 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 judgment on the substantive matter between Rivers State and the Federal Government, the matter is subjudice and Northern States Governors Forum would respect this.”

In his address, the Sultan of Sokoto commended the governors for their efforts in combating insecurity.

He said: “The traditional ruler’s councils appreciated the efforts made so far by the NSGF in addressing the key areas of challenges facing Northern states. We expressed our willingness, solidarity and collaboration with the governors in addressing these challenges, particularly the issue of security.”