Northern governors meet in Kaduna over VAT controversy, insecurity

Northern governors are holding an emergency meeting in Kaduna state to discuss issues that affect the region.

Traditional rulers from the region are also present at the meeting — the second of its kind in seven months.

Simon Lalong, Plateau state governor, on Monday, said the agenda for the meeting includes the value-added tax collection controversy between the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and some states.

Lalong, who is the chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, said the governors will also evaluate their efforts at tackling insecurity in their respective states and the region.

“While getting update essentially on the progress made so far from the previous meeting held in February, we shall take stock of how far we have gone in tackling banditry, kidnapping and insurgency, and chart a way forward,” he said.

“Today, I look forward to robust contributions from all members that will lead us to arrive at very meaningful conclusions that will impact positively on the fortunes of our people.”

On his part, Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, said the meeting is aimed at tapping ideas from the governors of the 19 northern states.

He said the region is facing various economic and security challenges, hence the need for the sit-down.

“These have destroyed the rural economy and it is for this reason that we convened an emergency meeting,” he said.