Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has threatened to take over Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) offices in his domain if the agency does not desist from bullying the State.
“I am not challenging FIRS from collecting VAT in Abuja. Let it be understood. But the law says Rivers must collect VAT in the State,” Wike declared.
He added: “The Federal government surreptitiously lobbied to amend the constitution to place VAT collection under the exclusive legislative list.
“We have challenged it and we have no apologies to anybody. You can’t bully us. I will shut FIRS offices in Rivers if the bullying continues.
“I don’t want to be in the good book of anybody but in the good book of God.
“You don’t bully states like us. FIRS should be very careful. I have the political will to do a lot of things. If they continue to bully us, I will take all their offices in this State.
The governor warned the oil companies and business owners not to remit their VAT to FIRS but the Rivers State government.
“I don’t want you to fall prey of the people who think they can use force to take our money.
“If you want to take advantage and say you don’t know who to pay to, it is a lie, you know.
“From this September, we will start collecting our VAT.
“We will not look back but seal up the premises of such companies,” he warned.
Meanwhile, a similar bill seeking to empower the Lagos State Government to collect VAT has passed second reading in the State House of Assembly.
If finally passed and endorsed by the State Governor, the State will join Rivers State in the new crusade to collect VAT.