VAT: Wike Chides Masari, Quit Being Lazy And Put On Your Thinking Cap

The activities of Katsina governor Bello Masari of “conspiring” with the federal government to maintain the status quo in topics relating to the collection of Value Added Tax have been branded as “unfortunate” by Nyesom Wike, the governor of Rivers (VAT).

iexclusive News Nigeria reports that Mr Masari had threatened to challenge a federal high court decision ordering the Rivers government to start collecting VAT in the oil-rich state.

Gov. Wike said Mr Masari’s support was assisting the federal government and self-imposed tax master-general to “rob Peter to pay Paul” in a nationwide broadcast on Monday.

Gov. Wike accused the governor of Katsina of being too lazy to make economic growth for his state, saying that governors like Mr Masari should put on their “thinking caps” as elected officials and argue for more resource devolution.

He stated that federating states require more powers to accomplish fiscal federalism, which he believes is the best way to economic self-reliance and sustainability for all states.

“All that is required is for all of us, as elected Governors, to put on our thinking caps and together push for further devolution of resources, duties, and powers to the federating states,” Mr Wike said.