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Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike in continuation for the enlightenment of the business community over the recent Federal High Court victory for the state to collect value added tax with the exclusion of Federal Government has revealed how officials of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS attempted to use office of the Attorney General of the Federation and the National Assembly to amend the constitution of Nigeria to frustrate states from being the rightful government to collect VAT.

Governor Wike stated this today while speaking with members of the business community in Rivers State.

According to Governor Wike, Rivers State in June 2021 generated the sum of 15 billion naira as value added tax but Federal Government gave the state 4.7 billion naira out of it, adding, Lagos state generated 46.4 billion naira and was given 9.3 billion naira but Kano State generated 2.8 billion naira and the entire amount of 2.8 billion naira generated was given back to the state by Federal Government.

Governor Wike described the system of Federal Government collecting and sharing revenue generated from value added tax for states as an act of injustice in Nigeria.

Excerpts:

In June 15.1 billion naira was collected as taxes in Rivers State but 4.7 billion naira was given to Rivers State, 46.4 billion naira was collected from Lagos State and but Lagos was given N9.3 billion naira.

Kano generated 2.8 billion naira and got 2.8 billion naira.

Have you seen the injustice in this Country ? I would not be Governor forever, it’s not about me but about the system.

Let the right thing be done.

We filed the Value Added Tax (VAT) collection action against FIRS and the office of the Attorney General representing the Federal Government in 2020.

In July 2021 the Chairman of FIRS wrote to the National Assembly through the Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives to ammend the Constitution and empowered the Federal Government to collect VAT. They knew what they were doing was unconstitutional so in July 2021 they wrote a letter for the constitution to be amended to Include VAT in the exclusive legislative list.

This was exactly what we were challenging in court so they tried to include it through the back door. Corruption is not only people collecting money, corruption is also doing things illegally.

Osazuwa Akonedo

Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media professional, author, and consultant. His work spans various sectors of communication and literature: Journalism and Media: He is the founder of OsazuwaAkonedo, which focuses on news analysis and commentary. He also provides consultancy services in media and banking. Literature: He is a published playwright and author of Nigerian literature. One of his notable works is the drama titled The End Shall Tell: What Exam Malpractice Can Cause, which addresses educational and social issues in Nigeria. Reporting: He frequently reports on regional news, particularly concerning Edo State and broader Nigerian current affairs. Credit: Google Gemini AI Mode Osazuwa Akonedo is a Nigerian media creator, journalist, and entrepreneur who engages audiences via news reporting, social media content, music, and a mobile application. Professional Background and Company Osazuwa Akonedo is associated with OSAZUWAAKONEDO LIMITED, a company registered in Nigeria that operates in media consultancy and news services  The company is headquartered in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, and has been active in publishing news in various formats including text, audio, video, and photos  Social Media and Online Platforms Osazuwa Akonedo maintains a strong online presence on several platforms: TikTok: Shares news updates and reports, for example, covering police operations in Nigeria  YouTube: Operates a channel where he uploads videos on current affairs and news content  Twitter/X: Active under the handle @akonedo_osazuwa, posting updates on events and news  Facebook: Profiles listing his connection to news and media activities can be found on Facebook  Mobile App: Offers a dedicated mobile application for news access through Google Play (Osazuwa Akonedo News App) providing text, video, and photo news formats  News Reporting and Content He produces news content covering national and local stories, including criminal activities, government updates, and investigative reports   His reporting spans multiple formats, making it accessible to a wide audience through online platforms, mobile apps, and social media  Other Contributions In addition to journalism, Osazuwa Akonedo has also ventured into audio releases, such as “Former Justice Minister Abubakar Malami Begs Nigerians For Justice” released on January 25, 2026   He also hosts podcasts documenting significant events, e.g, NDLEA arrests related to historical criminal cases  Summary Osazuwa Akonedo is a multifaceted media professional engaged in journalism, social media content creation, music, and technology via his news app. He utilizes platforms like TikTok, YouTube, Twitter/X, Facebook, and mobile applications to disseminate news and reach audiences both locally and internationally Credit: Azure AI

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