Daybreak, Politics, Entertainment, Sport

Tag: Southern Governors

Our Southern Counterparts Confusing VAT With Sales Tax – Northern Governors
Northern Governors, on Monday, said the position of their Southern counterpart on Value Added Tax (VAT) shows they are confusing it with sales tax.
Southern governors started pushing for state collection of VAT after a high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, held that the state government could collect VAT.
Rotational presidency unconstitutional – Northern Governors reply Southern counterparts
The matter is currently before the Supreme Court.
Arising from an emergency meeting with traditional rulers on Monday, northern governors gave their stand on the VAT controversy.
“If every State enacted its own VAT Law, multiple taxation will result in increases of prices of goods and services and collapse in interstate trade. VAT is not a production tax like excise, but terminal tax which is paid by the ultimate consumer.”
“Another confusion is ignoring observation above and its ‘overall effect.’ The reason Lagos accounts for our 50% VAT collection is because most of the telecommunication companies, banks, manufacturing and other trading activities have their headquarters in Lagos, with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT.”
He, however, said as responsible leaders, while the Forum is constrained by the fact that the matter is sub judice, it must, for the sake of educating the public, state that the judgement of the Port Harcourt Court calls to question the constitutionality of “VAT, withholding tax, education tax, Niger Delta Development Commission, National Information Technology Development Agency, 13% derivation, National Economic Development Council and many other currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Inlands Revenue Service.”
He said though Rivers and Lagos State Government had enacted their own VAT laws, unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgement on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is sub judice and Northern States Governors Forum would respect this.
September 27, 2021
Fulani Group warns Southern Govs against ban on Open Grazing
A Fulani group, Gan Allah Fulani Development Association, GAFDAN, has warned against the resolution of Southern governors to ban open grazing.
GAFDAN said a ban on open grazing would lead to a breakdown of peace between Northerners and Southerners.
The group insisted that the decision of the governors would groom hatred between Southerners and Northerners.
Southern governors under the umbrella of the Southern Governors’ Forum, SGF, had agreed to ban open grazing in their region.
During their meeting in Lagos State, the governors agreed that the ban would take effect from September 1.
However, GAFDAN’s National Secretary, Ibrahim Abdullahi, described the resolution as unfortunate and capable of affecting Nigeria’s unity.
Abdullahi said the resolution was impossible because they have not made an alternative plan for herders.
According to Abdullahi: “If you stop open grazing in the South, you are simply saying that those people should move to the North or they should move to other parts of the country. What happens if those in the North also ask the Southerners to leave?
“Are we promoting unity or hatred? What the governors are saying is practically impossible and it does not promote the unity of this country.
“You don’t stop people’s means of living and expect peace to reign. So, the implication is that the unity of Nigeria is going to be in question.
“You don’t expect those that will be affected to return to the North and live in peace with people from the South living in the North”.
July 12, 2021
2023: Restore peace before talking about presidency – Arewa Youths to Southern Govs
Youths from the 19 Northern states and Abuja, under the auspices of Arewa Youth Forum (AYF) have urged the Southern states Governors’ Forum to first settle the agitation and impasse in their region before talking about the presidency in 2023.
A communique issued by Gambo Ibrahim Gujungu, chairman of the forum at the end of their meeting, lamented that the Southern Governors were not concerned about how Nigeria would come out of the present predicament of insecurity and economic hardship but were only concerned about where the President would come from.
The communique advised the governors to employ all available means to settle the problems ravaging their region before considering which region would produce the President come 2023.
The participants noted that insecurity and self determination protests ongoing in the South should be resolved and tackled to give way for meaningful resolution of the challenges confronting the country.
The communique expressed concern with the destruction of government facilities and killing of Nigerians.
According to AYF, the resolution of the Governors is not only unconstitutional but detrimental to the cooperate existence of the country.
The meeting noted that anybody that would come out for the presidency in 2023 either from the South or North must have the requisite leadership qualities to unite and ensure the progress of the country.
The meeting expressed displeasure on the Southern governors rejection of the proposed 3% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives.
AYF believed that most of the resolutions of the Southern governors are sentimental, stressing that a President could come from any region so long he would be able to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
July 7, 2021
Full text of Southern Governors’ Communique
Governors of states in the Southern region of Nigeria met on Monday at the Government House in Lagos.
They met under the aegis of the Southern Governors’ Forum to deliberate on the state of the nation, weeks after a similar gathering at Asaba, the Delta capital.
In a statement issued at the end of the parley, the governors stated their position on several issues, including insecurity in Nigeria.
The chief executives rejected the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) passed by the National Assembly, and opposed the removal of electronic transmission of results from the Electoral act.
They set September 21, 2021 as the deadline for anti-open grazing law promulgation in member-states and rejected the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
The communique read by the forum and Ondo Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, also demanded that presidency be zoned to the South in 2023.
The full text is Reproduced Below:
“The Southern Governors Forum at the end of the meeting held on Monday, 5th July, 2021 reviewed the situation in the Country and focused on the current security situation, constitutional amendment, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
Rising from the meeting, the Forum agreed on the following:
1. Re-affirmed their commitment to the unity of Nigeria on the pillars of equity, fairness, justice, progress and peaceful co-existence between and amongst its people.
2. The Forum reiterates its commitment to the politics of equity, fairness and unanimously agrees that the presidency of Nigeria be rotated between Southern and Northern Nigeria and resolved that the next president of Nigeria should emerge from the Southern Region.
3 Security: a.The Forum reviewed the security situation in the country and commends security operatives for their relentless efforts in restoring security and safety and commiserates with families and loved ones of those who have fallen in the line of duty;
b. Re-emphasised the need for State Police;
c. Resolved that if for any reason security institutions need to undertake an operation in any State, the Chief Security Officer of the State must be duly informed;
d. the forum frowns at selective criminal administration of Justice and resolved that arrests should be made within the ambit of the Law and fundamental human rights;
e. Set a timeline of Wednesday, 1st September, 2021 for the promulgation of the anti open grazing law in all member States; and
f. Resolved that Funds deducted from the Federation Account for the Nigeria Police Security Trust Fund should be distributed among the States and Federal Government to combat security challenges.
4. Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) Law: i. The Forum commends the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB;
ii. the Forum rejects the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives;
iii. the forum also rejects the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins;
iv. However, the forum rejects the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC). The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle.
5. In order to consolidate our democracy and strengthen the Electoral process, the Southern Governors’ Forum reject the removal of the Electronic transmission of the election result from the electoral act; and also rejects the confirmation of exclusive jurisdiction in pre-election matters on the Federal High Court.
6. The Forum unanimously chose Lagos State as its permanent secretariat and appreciated the Governor of Lagos for the wonderful hosting of this meeting while commending him for his good work in the State.
July 6, 2021
You must take permission before operating in our states – Southern Govs warns security agencies
The Southern Nigerian Governors under the umbrella Southern Governors’ Forum, SGF, on Monday, warned all security agencies in the country against operating in the region without obtaining permission from the governor of the particular state.
This was contained in a communiqué read by Governor Rotimi of Ondo State shortly after their closed-door meeting in Lagos State on Monday.
The governors also insisted that the next president of the country must emerge from the Southern region.
July 5, 2021
Southern Govs reject 30% profit share for oil exploration in the Basins
Southern governors, on Monday, rejected the proposed allocation of at least 30 per cent of the profit generated by the proposed Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited for the exploration of oil in ‘frontier basins’ as identified by Section 9 of the recently passed Petroleum Industry Bill which will regulate the oil sector if signed by the President.
Although the proposed law doesn’t identify the frontier basins, a statement by the President in 2019 identified the frontier basins as Chad Basin, Gongola Basin, Sokoto Basin, Dahomey Basin, Bida Basin and Benue Trough.
Currently, crude oil is obtained from eight states in the Niger Delta region which include: Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo and Rivers States.
In a communiqué issued today at the end of their meeting in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State, the governors commended “the National Assembly for the progress made in the passage of the PIB”.
It partly read, “The Forum rejects the proposed 3% and support the 5% share of the oil revenue to the host community as recommended by the House of Representatives;
“The forum also rejects the proposed 30% share of profit for the exploration of oil and gas in the basins.
“The forum rejects the ownership structure of the proposed Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited. The Forum disagrees that the company be vested in the Federal Ministry of Finance but should be held in trust by Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority since all tiers of Government have stakes in that vehicle.”
Details later…
July 5, 2021
Southern Governors give deadline for Implementation of Anti-Open Grazing law
Southern Governors under the umbrella of Southern Governors’ Forum have set September 21, 2021, as the deadline for the promulgation of anti-open grazing law among its member states.
The governors took the decision on Monday during a close-door meeting in Lagos State.
The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, who read the communique shortly after the meeting, said the members have jointly agreed on the date.
The governors, who warned the security agencies in the country not to operate in their various states without permission from the governor in charge, also insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor must emerge from the region.
Details later…
July 5, 2021
BREAKING: Our region will produce Nigeria’s next President – Southern Governors
Governors of the Southern states in the country have jointly agreed that Nigeria’s next President should come from the southern region.
Southern governors made the announcement on Monday after a closed-door meeting in Lagos held to discuss issues concerning the state of the nation.
The Chairman of the Southern Governors Forum, Rotimi Akeredolu, who made this known while addressing journalists after the meeting said the resolve was made after much deliberation on the happenings across the country presently.
The meeting which is being hosted by Lagos Governor Bababjide Sanwo-Olu had in attendance Governor Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Nyesom Wike (Rivers). Others are Duoye Diri (Bayelsa); Emeka Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom).
Also, Deputy Governors Philip Shaibu (Edo), Ude Chukwu (Abia), Placid Njoku (Imo) and Kelechi Igwe (Ebonyi) represented their state governors.
This is coming after the Governors met in May to take the unanimous decision to ban open grazing in the region.
They also September 21, 2021, as the deadline for the promulgation of anti-open grazing law among its member states.
Details later…
July 5, 2021
Southern Governors Meet In Lagos
Governors of the southern region are holding a meeting in Lagos on the state of the nation.
The meeting is a follow-up on the earlier meeting in Asaba hosted by the Delta state Governor where the governors agreed on far-reaching conclusions on open grazing, restructuring Nigeria, and calls for state police.
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has started receiving the governors at Alausa, Ikeja, the venue of their meeting.
Some of those at the meeting include Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State; Gboyega Oyetola of Osun State; and Edo State deputy governor Philip Shaibu.
Others include Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun; Enugu State governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.
More to follow…
July 5, 2021
Miyetti Allah gives Southern Governors conditions to accept ban on Open Grazing
Miyetti Allah has said that the ban on open grazing by the Governors of Southern Nigeria will remain ineffective until an alternative to grazing is provided for the herders.
South East Chairman of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, MACBAN, Gidado Siddiki, said this in response to the call by former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, on all the states Houses of Assembly in South East Nigeria to enact anti-grazing law in their respective states.
Gidado Siddiki mentioned that they were not opposed to ban on open grazing but that the public hearing on constitution review should grant all parties the right to make submissions for a law against open grazing.
“We were not given the chance to go for the Constitution review public hearing, we went there but nobody gave us an audience to talk. We did not submit a petition,” he said.
He noted that the South East leaders are yet to provide ranching as an alternative for herders in conducting their business, hence the reason such decision will remain ineffective.
Siddiki said: “Our position is that we are not opposed to the ban on open grazing, but at least we need an alternative.
“You know when somebody is doing business and you stop him from doing that business, he would be given an alternative on what to do.
“When you say that you have banned open grazing, you need to tell us how we should graze our cows because what we know is grazing. If there is an alternative, there is no problem, and that is the only thing we are begging for.”
He urged the governors to call on all parties in making laws in respect to open grazing, adding that there is no provision for ranching in most states which poses a problem to herders.
“If open grazing is bringing problems, let us find ways we can coexist.
“If there is provision for ranching, we can do ranching but I do not think there is provision for ranching in states. Even Benue State that banned open grazing, I don’t think there has been any ranching in Benue State in all these years.
“So, I don’t know if there is provision and that is our own problem,” the Miyettl Allah leader said.
June 21, 2021