A member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon Adegoke Awoso has called on Governors in South-West of Nigeria to stand firm on the Value Added Tax (VAT) bill, arguing that the zone cannot continue to be slaves with huge amounts of revenue generated in the zone.
Penpushing reports that, Awoso made the call on Tuesday during a plenary session at the floor of the chambers, stressing that, it is absurd that those who claim to have over 140 million population out of 200 million Nigeria population are more developed than those laying the golden egg.
The lawmaker under the order of the day paper, Bill H.B. No. 073/OG/2021- Ogun State Value Added Tax Law, 2021, emphasised that the bill is apt if indeed if the country want to be fair, equitable and practice true federalism.
Penpushing further reports that, Awoso added that the bill will help in restructuring and put an end to the agitation of secession that is currently ravaging the country, just as he cited the instance of Dangote Cement plant in his constituency in Ibeshe which incidentally is the largest plant in Africa that has not been able to add a cubit of infrastructural development to the area.
The lawmaker noted that Ogun State Government is complaining of paucity of fund because the Value Added Tax(VAT) collected from this industry is sent to the purse of the Federal Government.
Penpushing also reports that, he added that major buildings in the area are also experiencing technical and architectural risks whenever the plant is blasting, noting that most cash crops and other plants which have been the major source of the dwellers are not doing well again.
The outspoken lawmaker lamented that the Sango-Ota which happens to be the major industrial hub of State and on which strength the state ranked 4th/5th out of the 36 States in Nigeria on the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR) table has impassable roads and poor infrastructures.
Penpushing reports that, Awoso dwelled on some consumable goods, like cigarettes, beverages and alcoholic drinks which have adverse effect on health but contribute heavily to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The Chairman House Committee on Health in reference to the 4th Legislative Health Summit with the theme “Universal Health Coverage and Health Security: stated that there should be a considerable charge to take care of the consuming people’s health in their respective territories.
Penpushing further reports that, he maintained that it is total injustice when Northerners who practice Sharia Law that sees alcohol consumption as an Haram, and who keeps destroying thousands of beer in their state keeps sharing out Value Added Tax (VAT) from such types of goods.
Meanwhile, the lawmaker pointed out that these are parts of the injustices that led to Niger Delta crisis when the area that produced oil that the whole nation depends upon is totally neglected, and lack expected development.
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