Politics
Why VAT law will be beneficial to Lagos – Obasa, residents speak at public hearing
Why VAT law will be beneficial to Lagos – Obasa, residents speak at public hearing
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa, on Wednesday, said the proposed law on Value Added Tax (VAT) would help the state meet more of its developmental goals.
Obasa said this during a public hearing on a bill for the Lagos State Value Added Tax (VAT) and for other connected purposes.
This was as stakeholders at the hearing commended the Lagos State Assembly and its leadership for their determination to ensure that the bill becomes law.
In his remark, Obasa noted that states have always felt financially strangulated and unfairly treated by the Federal Government in her administration and appropriation of receipts of VAT.
Speaking through the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni, who represented him, Obasa said that Lagos state generates an excess of N500 billion in VAT.
“If we go by generation trend in tandem with the N2.4 trillion forecasted by the FIRS, Lagos state will be contributing about 55 percent of the total VAT collectables in the entire country.
“But what do we get in return? Some paltry sum. This injustice and inequity are part of the premises on which some of the extant agitations are founded.”
The Speaker said this agitation had been helped by the judgement of a Federal High Court in the case of the Attorney General of Rivers State versus the Federal Inland Revenue Service (2020) in which the rights of Rivers state (by extension, other states) were upheld.
“Though the FIRS has expectedly appealed the judgement to the Court of Appeal, it is expected that the appellate court will follow the sound logic in the Federal High Court decision,” he said.
The Speaker said the proposed law would allow the state more resources to meet its developmental goals.
“More so, this action brings to the fore of actualization, the true federalism for which we have been agitating,” he added.
On his part, the State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosere Onigbanjo (SAN), said every state of the federation stood to benefit from the judgement of the court.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the House Committee on Finance, Hon Rotimi Olowo, said even though Lagos is prosperous, it can do better and VAT will help with the resources it needs.
“We know that the resources in the state are overstretched,” he said adding that the proposed law has benefits on the state and its residents.
Edo LG Chairmen Reject Suspension, Urge Adherence to Court Judgments
By Ifeoma Ikem
Edo State local government chairmen have denounced their alleged suspension by the State House of Assembly as illegal, urging the governor and lawmakers to respect court rulings affirming their tenure and authority.
On December 17, reports emerged that the Assembly suspended all 18 council chairmen and their deputies following Governor Monday Okpebholo’s petition alleging gross misconduct and insubordination. The petition cited Section 10(1) of the Edo State Local Government Law (2000) as its basis.
However, the chairmen, through their legal counsel, Ogaga Ovrawah (SAN), contend that this provision had been declared unconstitutional in a judgment by the Edo State High Court in Suit No. B/257OS/2024. The court established the chairmen’s tenure as a three-year term commencing September 4, 2023.
The council leaders also referenced a Supreme Court judgment voiding state governors’ and assemblies’ authority to interfere with local government administration. They emphasized that their suspension contradicts existing judicial rulings and remains a legal nullity.
A recent interim order from the Edo High Court further restrained the government from obstructing the councils’ operations, assets, and funds. Despite being served notices of these judgments, the chairmen argue that the governor and assembly acted in defiance of the judiciary.
The embattled chairmen called for the governor to withdraw his request to the Assembly and for the lawmakers to rescind their resolution, warning of potential constitutional crises if the orders are ignored.
They urged security agencies to enforce court rulings, safeguard local government properties, and ensure the continuity of governance.
“The rule of law must prevail,” they stated, pledging to remain committed to their constitutional duties.
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