*Say rotational presidency not in 1999 Constitution
The Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF) has raised a red flag to their Southern colleagues, saying that their insistence on producing the next president in 2023 is patently unconstitutional.
Rising from their meeting in Kaduna on Monday, the Northern Governors also reminded their Southern counterparts that rotational presidency is not enshrined in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The Northern States Governors’ Forum also stated that until the Supreme Court delivers its judgement in the Value Added Tax (VAT) suit between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is subjudice as the NSGF would respect the development.
The Forum disclosed its position in a resolutions made available after its emergency meeting with Northern states Emirs and Chiefs in Kaduna on Monday.
In the resolution signed by its Chairman and Plateau State Governor, Mr Simon Lalong, the NSGF argued that the Southern Governors’ insistence on producing the next president “is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended.
It said, “Notwithstanding their comments, the Forum unanimously condemn the statement by the Southern Governors Forum that the Presidency must go to the South”.
NSGF also stated that the elected President must score the majority votes – “score at least 25% of the votes cast in 2/3 States of the Federation. In the case of run-up, simple majority win the election”.
The Northern Governors also considered the on-going National debate on the collection of VAT, adding that “As responsible leaders, while we are constraint by the fact that the matter is sub judice, we however, for the purposes of educating the public, make five point observations.
According to the Forum, the judgement of the Federal High 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 others currently levied and collected by the Federal Government of Nigeria, Federal Inland Revenue Service.
The resolutions of the NSGF read in part:
“Rivers and Lagos State Government had enacted their own VAT laws and the Southern Governors Forum have expressed support for this course of action;
“VAT is being confused by these State Government as a sales tax. If every State enacted its own VAT Law, multiple taxation will result in increases of prices of goods and services and collapsed 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 account for our 50% Vat collection is because most of the telecommunication companies, banks manufacturing and other trading activities that have their headquarters in Lagos with the resultant and wrongful attribution of VAT.
“Until and 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”.
On their parts, the Northern States Traditional Rulers appreciated the efforts made so far by the NSGF in addressing the key areas of challenges facing the Northern States and expressed their willingness and solidarity to collaborate with the governors in addressing these challenges, particularly the issue of security.
The Forum also resolved that perpetrators of crimes should be dealt with irrespective of their status in the society.
The Forum further decried the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some Judicial Officers in releasing /granting bail to arrested criminals.
It said, “This attitude sabotages the fight against criminality, therefore, the need to develop good and robust intelligence mechanism amongst states was identified as a panacea”.
The NSGF also called on agencies to leave up to their responsibilities and urges Traditional rulers to mobilize their various communities in checkmating the ugly trend of criminality in their domains.
The Forum noted the ugly trend in the spread of drugs and consumption amongst the teeming youth and called on all levels of Governments and communities to rise to the occasion by stemming the ugly tide.
The NSGF further urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the well establish National Livestock Transformation Programme as a spring board in transiting from the open grazing system as widely practiced in the North.
