Wike Tasks Supreme Court On VAT Suit

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike has appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria to give the case before it concerning the collection and distribution of value added taxes (VAT) generated from the state by the federal government the urgency it requires.

Wike made the appeal yesterday while speaking at the march-past and parade in commemoration of Nigeria’s 62nd independence anniversary at the Sharks Football Stadium in Port Harcourt.

The governor explained that such urgency and eventual ruling on the case in favour of the state, will further add more financial resources that will accelerate the economic growth of Rivers State.

He said, “We have also not given up in our determination to right the injustice associated with the collection and distribution of value added taxes generated from the state by the federal government just as we again call on the Supreme Court to please, treat this matter with the urgency that it requires.”

Wike stated that since 1999 that the country returned to democracy, it has continued to witness deliberate constitutional distortions, institutional weaknesses and widespread corruption that have prevented Nigerians from enjoying a robust democratic practice.

The governor listed the absence of a free and fair elections, the rule of law and social justice as part of experiences that are refused to take root in Nigeria.

“This is not to say that Nigeria has not made any progress as a nation. Certainly, we have achieved some visible developmental strides and economic progress as Africa’s largest economy.

“The fact that we have remained together despite the recurrent conflicts and crisis of confidence is also worth celebrating as an achievement.

“But, after 62 years, Nigeria deserves more than what it has achieved and Nigerians likewise deserve much more than what their leaders have delivered to them with the country’s enormous natural and human resources,” he stated.

Wike bemoaned the inability of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led federal government, over the last seven years, to keep the economic and social conditions within Nigeria from deteriorating.

The governor pointed to such inability as evidence that the APC-led federal government is totally lost in what further measures it could take to stem or ameliorate the predicaments they have visited on Nigerians.