A group in the South-East under the umbrella of the Igbo National Movement, (INM), has slammed the Federal Governments mode of collection of the Value-Added Tax, (VAT), describing it as fraudulent and not in the best interest of some indigenous Nigerians.
In a statement issued in Owerri at the weekend by the convener, Anthony Okolo, it frowned at the Federal Governments acts of VAT collection, noting that the recent efforts of the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on the rights of the State to collect VAT should be an eye-opener to other governors.
Okolo enjoined other governors in the South-East as well as the states Houses of Assembly to support and imbibe the courage of Wike to do the same in their states, affirming that the zone would have greater improvement in infrastructural development.
The convener pointed out that those steps, if taken, would assist State Governors to be able to pay salaries, meet their pension commitments, activate welfare projects and sustain their policies which are geared at creating a better life for the people.
This, according to him, would mean fewer trips to Abuja to beg for money that is by right already theirs.
He said that the strategy would help in the establishment of hospitals, roads, schools and security installations to ward off the terrorist organisations that threaten our safety and security.
Okolo insisted that for those projects to be achieved, governors should follow the path of truth while the legislators should be brave to fight the good fight to secure the future of our children.
