{"id":289,"date":"2021-09-08T15:36:07","date_gmt":"2021-09-08T14:36:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coastaltimes557122118.wordpress.com\/2021\/09\/08\/just-in-gov-wike-vows-to-shutdown-banks-iocs-others-that-pay-vat-to-firs\/"},"modified":"2021-09-08T15:36:07","modified_gmt":"2021-09-08T14:36:07","slug":"just-in-gov-wike-vows-to-shutdown-banks-iocs-others-that-pay-vat-to-firs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2021\/09\/08\/just-in-gov-wike-vows-to-shutdown-banks-iocs-others-that-pay-vat-to-firs\/","title":{"rendered":"JUST IN: Gov Wike Vows To Shutdown Banks, IOCs, Others That Pay VAT To FIRS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Coastal News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Governor Wike. <\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, insisted on going on with his move to stop the Federal Government from collecting Value Added Tax from the oil-rich South-South state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wike, who said he does not care if heaven falls, insisted that Rivers money is not meant for \u201cAbuja people\u201d but for the development of his state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The governor spoke at a stakeholders\u2019 meeting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, while addressing Shell Petroleum Development Company and other representatives of oil companies and business owners in the state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking at the stakeholders\u2019 meeting on Wednesday televised live on Channels TV and two other stations, Wike lamented about the injustice in the country saying Rivers generated N15bn in June 2021 but got N4.7bn but \u201cIn June N15.1bn was collected as taxes in Rivers State but N4.7bn was given to Rivers State, N46.4bn was collected from Lagos State but Lagos was given N9.3bn. Kano generated N2.8bn and was given N2.8bn. Have you seen the injustice in this Country ? I will not be Governor forever, it\u2019s not about me but about the system. Let the right thing be done.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The governor said he cannot continue to beg the Federal Government for what belongs to his state.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPeople say that let heaven not fall but sometimes I believe that heaven should come down so that everybody will rest\u2026When we do the right thing, heaven is at peace. So, the right thing must be done at all times,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wike added, \u201cRivers State is challenging FIRS from collecting VAT in Rivers 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Federal Government surreptitiously lobbied to amend the constitution to place VAT collection under the exclusive legislative list<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe have challenged it and we have no apologies to anybody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to be in the good book of anybody but in the good book of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t bully state 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 the state,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The governor warned the oil companies and business owners not to remit their VAT to FIRS but the Rivers State Government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want you to fall prey of the people who think they can use force to take our money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you want to take advantage and say you don\u2019t know who to pay to, it is a lie, you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom this September, we will start collecting our VAT.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe will not look back but seal up the premises of such companies,\u201d he warned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was earlier reported that the Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt in its judgment last month in a suit marked FHC\/PH\/CS\/149\/2020 held that the Rivers State Government had the powers to collect VAT within its territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Federal Inland Revenue Service, on Monday, prayed the court to stay execution on the judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the presiding judge, Justice Stephem Pam, rejected the application, saying granting it would negate the principle of equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

VAT is a consumption tax paid when goods are purchased and services are rendered. It is charged at a rate of 7.5 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Source: Gbaramatuvoicenews<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Coastal News Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, insisted on going on with his…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":288,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[14],"tags":[185],"class_list":["post-289","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opinion","tag-gov-wike"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/nyesom-wike-1.jpg?fit=1280%2C719&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1248,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2022\/01\/05\/breaking-stop-marginalizing-other-ethnicities-in-niger-delta-__gov-wike-warns-ijaws\/","url_meta":{"origin":289,"position":0},"title":"BREAKING: Stop Marginalizing Other Ethnicities In Niger Delta __Gov Wike Warns Ijaws","author":"Coastal Times","date":"January 5, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News Gov. Nyesom Wike, Governor of Rivers State. Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has warned Ijaw people against attempt to appropriate everything about Niger Delta to themselves to the detriment of other ethnic groups in the oil producing region. 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Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says Nigeria must encourage federating States to harness their resources and generate revenues, including Value Added Tax, VAT to advance their development. He has also stressed that it is baffling to note that Rivers\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/wike-signs-1.jpg?fit=650%2C350&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/wike-signs-1.jpg?fit=650%2C350&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/wike-signs-1.jpg?fit=650%2C350&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1279,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2022\/01\/10\/inc-spokesman-oyakemegbegha-reacts-over-remark-by-gov-wike-says-ijaws-will-not-be-distracted-in-the-struggle-for-niger-delta-emancipation\/","url_meta":{"origin":289,"position":2},"title":"INC Spokesman Oyakemegbegha Reacts To Remark By Gov Wike, Says Ijaws Will Not Be Distracted In The Struggle For Niger Delta Emancipation","author":"Coastal Times","date":"January 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Coastal News Engr. Ezonebi Oyakemegbegha, Spokesman Ijaw National Congress. 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Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, the Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Udom Governor of Akwa\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Politics"","block_context":{"text":"Politics","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/politics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211004-154150_wordpress-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C535&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211004-154150_wordpress-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C535&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211004-154150_wordpress-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C535&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211004-154150_wordpress-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C535&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/screenshot_20211004-154150_wordpress-1.jpg?fit=1080%2C535&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3084,"url":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/2024\/09\/08\/ozobo-warns-strangers-planning-to-destabilize-fubaras-government-says-ijaw-nation-will-protect-his-government\/","url_meta":{"origin":289,"position":4},"title":"Ozobo Warns Strangers Planning To Destabilize Fubara’s Government, Says Ijaw Nation Will Protect His Government","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"September 8, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"By Joy Ukaegbu Prominent Niger Delta rights and environmental activist, Comrade Ozobo Austin, has stated that the Ijaw nation will not permit \"strangers\" to destabilize the government of Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara. 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Godknows Boladei Igali","author":"Freeborn Abraye","date":"November 13, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"By Ebiowei Gabriel PRESS INTERVIEW: MINISTER WIKE DESERVES NATIONAL APOLOGY FOR BEING PREVENTED FROM PERFORMING HIS DUTIES BY JUNIOR NAVAL OFFICER AND MEN ON ILLEGAL DUTIES The National Chairman of the Pan Niger Forum (PANDEF), Amb Godknows Boladei Igali, on his way out of the Port Harcourt International Airport to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Opinion"","block_context":{"text":"Opinion","link":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/opinion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4881.jpg?fit=688%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4881.jpg?fit=688%2C512&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/img_4881.jpg?fit=688%2C512&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pfDfBE-4F","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=289"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/289\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/288"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=289"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=289"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coastaltimes.com.ng\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=289"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}