VAT: We must wake up to the reality on ground – Gombe gov

Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya on Monday said the move by both Rivers and Lagos states has awoken the state to the present reality.

Yahaya made this disclosure during the presentation of certificate of credibility on his government by the All Progressives Congress stakeholders from the southern part of the state.

The group was led by Sen. Bulus Amos, the senator representing south district in the Senate.

Recall that the state commissioner for Finance Muhammad Magaji, at an event was quoted to have urged both states to show solidarity in the issue of Value Added Tax.

The Governor explained that if the income from Value Added Tax was cut off, the state government would be unable to pay salaries, pointing out that 35 per cent of the state’s earnings was from VAT.

He said that the reason the two states could boast over VAT collection was because of the industries they have in their states,“if they are granted the opportunity to collect VAT, what are we going to do?we must wake up to the reality on the ground,” he said.

He added, “if income from VAT ceases, the state government will be unable to pay salaries,  35 per cent of the state’s earnings was from VAT.”

While commenting on the moves of his administration to ensure that he improves the economic reality, the governor revealed that with the yet to be inaugurated Muhammadu Buhari industrial park investment would  opened  the state and region to economic prosperity.

He added, “Recently, with Dadin Kowa Dam in existence that’s generating 40MW, we took advantage and cited the Muhammadu Buhari Industrial Park there which will facilitate the take-off of several industries.’’

Speaking earlier, Amos said the governor has improved the lots of people of the district, adding that it has never been done by the administrations.

He noted that the vote of confidence was a collective decision of the people from Tangale-Waja zone within the All Progressives Congress.