Local Governments Are The Right Tier Of Government To Collect V.A.T. - Nigeria Delta Youth Coalition ( NDYC)

As the controversy rages on between Federal Government and some states on who has the constitutional powers to collect Value Added Tax ( VAT) , a Non Governmental Organization, Nigeria Delta Youth Coalition ( NDYC) has named the 747 local government areas in the country as the real tier that ought to collect the tax.

NDYC national coordinator, Emma Ogba told newsmen in Port Harcourt yesterday that neither the Federal Government nor the state should collect VAT

Ogba stated that every part of the country, including Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory are under one local government or the other.

According to the NDYC boss , " the third tier which is the local government has been so relegated to the background, allowing them to collect VAT will make them fairly relevant.

" The states cheat the local government areas, Federal Government also don't care much about them , yet every sourcee of taxation domiciles with the local government areas", he said.

He further stated that their would be peace in the country if local governments that are closest to the people are given some revenue privilages.

" What belongs to oil host Communities can easily and fairly get to them. Same thing with non oil producing communities will as well get to them easily"

He commended the Rivers State Government and the Lagos State Government for bringing forth this argument because it would strengthen fiscal federalism which has been so wrongly abused.

" But let the states and Federal Government forget it and go ahead to give VAT collection to the local government areas because it will strengthen the system.

The first and third tier, he said, have been accused of neglecting the people and that is the reason why there is so much under development and acrimony in the country.