The Value Added Tax (VAT) between the Federal Government and Rivers State Government has taken a new dimension with Governor Nyesom Wike accusing the Buhari administration of corruption.
At an interactive session with representatives of corporate organisations at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Wednesday, Wike said corruption is not only about kickbacks.
Wike who was stating the position of the law to the business community in the state said, ‘’corruption is also about doing something illegally’’, pointing out,. ‘’we were in court in 2020. On July 1st 2021, Chairman of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) wrote to the National Assembly through the office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.
‘’He was asking them to amend the constitution and insert VAT under item 58 of the Exclusive Legislative List, when we were already challenging that it is not their responsibility to collect VAT. They knew that what they were doing was not the right thing.”
Constinuing, Governor Wike said with the infraction of the constitutional provision on collection of VAT addressed, his administration has commenced full implementation of the Rivers VAT legislation without hesitation.
Such understanding, he said, will enable businesses operating in the state not to fall prey to the antics that could be deployed by FIRS officials, who think they could use force to collect what does not belong to them.
The Rivers governor explained that FIRS had in the past collected VAT in the state with impunity, knowing it was unconstitutional for them to do so.
Wike said his administration challenged their impunity in court and the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, in its declarative ruling had stated the constitution is right in vesting powers to collect VAT in the State government within its jurisdiction.
“When we challenged the Federal Government through the Office of the Attorney-General and FIRS in court, do you know what they did? They wrote a letter dated July 1, 2021 when it was in 2020 that we filed this action against them. But see how corrupt this country is.
Governor Wike stated that his responsibility in office included making sure that Rivers people are not denied their entitlements, and described as unfortunate FIRS’ resort to writing threatening letters to intimidate corporate organisation to pay to them even after they have lost their appeal that sought a stay of execution of the declarative ruling on VAT collection in the state.
He is urging businesses in the state to start paying VAT for the month of September 2021 and subsequent months to the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service. According to him, he has already assented to the state VAT law passed by the House of Assembly.
While warning corporate organisations not to feign ignorance of the state VAT law, he declared that the state government will not hesitate to seal up the premises of any company that defaults, adding, ‘’we are going to inaugurate the Tax Appeal Commission by Friday which will be headed by a retired judge of the state.’’
Governor Wike described the disparity in VAT proceeds and what is given to the states as an inexplicable form of injustice that weakens the performance potential of the states.
“Let me tell you the injustice in this country. In the month of June 2021, which we shared in July, VAT collected in Rivers was N15.1billion. What they gave us was N4.7billion. See the gross injustice and these money includes contracts awarded by Rivers State Government.
“This is not an issue of party, it is the issues of infraction of the constitution, issues of illegality. Look at Lagos, it is not the same party with me. In the month of June 2021, the VAT collected in Lagos was N46.4 billion but see what Lagos got, N9.3 billion. Have you seen the injustice in the country? VAT collected in Kano was N2.8 billion and they gave them N2.8 billion. Is there any justice in this country?”
He described as morally offensive a situation where Rivers State government will award contracts for state roads worth N200 billion and FIRS will illegally receive 7.5 percent of the amount as VAT to be distributed among the states.
“So you allow me to call the big companies, award contracts to them, then you, FIRS, come and collect the tax and then go and distribute it to other states who are not awarding contracts. How does it sound.”
Wike noted that nobody has been courageous to challenge the illegally perpetrated by FIRS and that history will be kind to Rivers State to have mustered the courage to speak out and also challenge it.
According to Governor Wike, Nigeria is a constitutional democracy and not a military government where rule of law is grossly disregarded.
“I overheard FIRS chairman saying that I’ll soon know the power of the Federal Government. And that they’ll show me that they have the power to muzzle the judiciary. You can muzzle them as you want. Let the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court interpret the law so that all of us will go and rest.
“Use all the power you want to use, but history will be written one day and those who will allow themselves to be used to muzzle and misinterpret the law will face God one day.”
Wike then pointed out that it is not possible for all states to be at equal standing or be mechanically placed in position of performance without allowing them to exercise their rights within the condition.
He advocated that the federating states should be allowed to explore their creative abilities in utilising the functions as provided in the constitution in order to grow.
On his words, “the powers have already been devolved in the constitution but the federal government does not allow us. All they want us to do is to come and beg and I say I will not beg. Give me what the law says I should get.”
In the meantime, FIRS on Wednesday says it has appealed the judgment of the Federal High Court in Rivers which ruled that it does not have the right to collect VAT in the state.
FIRS’ Group Lead, Special Tax Operations, Matthew Gbonjugbola, claimed in Abuja that it is the exclusive right of the agency to collect VAT in the country, explaining that the law mandating the FIRS to collect VAT seeks to protect businesses from multiple VAT.
According to him, “I can confirm to you that FIRS indeed approached an appellate court to review the judgement of the lower court at the Federal Court of Appeal in Rivers. Be assured that FIRS has filed an appeal and that one is in process and that is why we are not able to speak.”
While dismissing the purported plans by the agency to tax social media in Nigeria, Gbonjugbola also said VAT collection cannot work at the sub-national level, maintaining that the FIRS is empowered by law to do so.
This latest development is coming days after a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt delivered a judgment restraining FIRS from collecting VAT and personal income tax in Rivers.
VAT is however, a consumption tax paid when goods are purchased and services are rendered. It is charged at a rate of 7.5 percent.
