Governors of South-South region on Monday rose from their meeting in meeting with a resolution to join the suit on the collection of the Value Added Tax.
The governors’ decision to be joined in the case at the Supreme Court was contained in a communique they issued at the end of the meeting, which was read by Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa.
According to the governors, the region would follow the case to its conclusion at the highest court in the country.
The communique read in part:
“We Unequivocally support the decisions of states to collect Value Added Tax and resolved to join the suit at the Supreme Court.
“Council urged the President and the National Assembly to take some measures to review some unfair aspects of the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill now Act to ensure fairness and equity. It urged that the amendment should include a clear definition of host communities and that the trustees should be appointed by state governments.
” Council called upon the President and the Federal Government to uphold the law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission by appropriately constituting its board. In addition, we express the hope that the Federal Government will make the forensic audit report publicly and deal justly and fairly with the report with a view to strengthening the capacity of NDDC to meet its obligations to the people of the region.
“Council regretted that the President and the Federal Government have entirely failed to give considerations to requests made by the region during the dialogue with a special Federal delegation led by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the President. Notable among the requests were the relocations of NNPC subsidiaries and IOC headquarters to the region and the completion of a number of federal projects in the region, notably roads.”
The governors also declared that they had agreed on a regional security outfit, which would be unveiled soon.
Meanwhile the sociocultural organization of the region, Pan-Niger Delta Forum, has said the decision of the governors to join the case was a welcome development.
PANDEF National Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Ibok Essien declared the group’s support for the governors in his reaction to their announcement while speaking from Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
“The governors’ resolution on joining the suit is a welcome development. And the implication is that when the Supreme Court makes its pronouncement it will affect all the states that joined in the suit. And if that pronouncement is in favour of the states it means that automatically they will all benefit from the judgment of the Court.
“Those States will start collecting VAT, on their own. But if you are not joined as a party in the suit, you will not be a beneficiary of that Court judgment given. It means you will now have to go to court again on your own. Therefore, PANDEF’s advice to all the South South States is that they should join as a party to the suit,” he said.