South-South govs to float regional security outfit, join VAT suit at S’ Court

The BRACED Governors’ Council also known as South-South Governors’ Forum said it has approved a joint regional security outfit which would be floated soon.

Chairman of the Forum and Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said this was part of the resolution reached at the end of their meeting held at Government House, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The Delta State governor, who read the Forum’s communique, said BRACED has unanimously supported states on the collection of Valued Added Tax and agreed to join the suit at the Supreme Court.

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Governor Okowa, who presided over the meeting, called on the President and National Assembly to review some unfair aspects of the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill, which has become an act.

The governors’ communique read, “Bearing in mind that most of the BRACED states have established their state security’s organs, we approved the regional security architecture, which will be launched very soon. Unequivocally support the decisions of states to collect Valued Added Tax and resolved to join the suit at the Supreme Court.

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“Council urged the President and the National Assembly to take some measures to review some unfair aspects of the recently signed Petroleum Industry Bill now Act, to ensure fairness and equity. It urged that the amendment should include the clear definition of host communities and that the trustees should be appointed by state governments.”

BRACED called on President Muhammadu Buhari to uphold the law establishing the Niger Delta Development Commission, by appropriately constituting its board and make public the forensic audit report.

“The council regretted that the President and the Federal Government have entirely failed to give considerations to requests made by the region during the dialogue with a special federal delegation led by Prof. Ibrahim Gambari, Chief of Staff to the President.

“Notable among the requests were the relocations of NNPC subsidiaries and IOC headquarters to the region and the completion of a number of federal projects in the region notably roads,” the statement added.

The council, however, expressed its appreciation to the host governor, Wike, and also commended the Director-General of the commission for his commitment to the region’s aspirations.

Other BRACED governors at the meeting, which lasted several hours, were Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Emmanuel Udoh (Akwa Ibom) and Godwin Obaseki (Edo).