The Lagos State government has assured that collection of VAT by the state will not impoverish other states in the federation and make collection cumbersome, but that the ongoing legal dispute was about instituting true fiscal federalism.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, said this while speaking on TVC’s current affairs programme, ‘Your View’. He said Lagos had a solid case in the ongoing legal dispute concerning VAT collection between the Federal and state government.
The Commissioner, while noting that the crux of the disagreement was about equity, justice and fairness, expressed hope that it would also enrich the country’s jurisprudence and enhance the way citizens see and relate with the law.
“Lagos has a solid case as the crux of the disagreement is about equity, justice and fairness. Whichever way it goes, it will also enrich our jurisprudence and enhance the way we see and relate with the law. No matter what, Lagos will always stand for true fiscal federalism,” he said.
The Commissioner pointed out that the volume of air, sea and road transport activities in Lagos put pressure on the state’s infrastructure, pointing out that additional revenue from VAT would facilitate infrastructure development for faster movement of goods and services, as well as economic growth for the benefit of not only Lagos, but other states at affordable cost.
