By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
A former media aide to Kano State governor, Salihu Tanko Yakasai, has backed the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, on the decision to keep all the Valued Added Tax collected in the state.
A federal high court in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has ruled that VAT, also known as consumption tax, belongs to states, and not the federal government. This confirms the position by Rivers State that it won’t allow companies operating in the state to remit VAT to the federal government.
Lagos State House of Assembly has already passed a bill mandating companies operating in the state to remit VAT to the Lagos government.
Yakasai, the controversial son of the elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, has asked Wike not to budge on the VAT issue.
He said: “I Salihu Tanko-Yakasai a.k.a Dawisu, who was Kano State Governor, Ganduje’s media aide, has taken sides with Wike on the VAT issue.
He added: “Any northerner that’s attacking Wike on this VAT issue does not mean well for his region. On this I’m with Wike 100%. It’s time we look inwards & do some soul searching on how to revive our economic status in this country. To me, this is a wake up call to Arewa leaders & followers.”