State Attorneys-General meet in Abuja on VAT, Paris Club refunds, others

The Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation has begun a two-day meeting in Abuja to address legal issues bordering on Value Added Tax, Paris Club Refunds, Stamp Duty, among others.  The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, declared the session open on Monday. He said the meeting […]

The Attorneys-General of the 36 states of the federation has begun a two-day meeting in Abuja to address legal issues bordering on Value Added Tax, Paris Club Refunds, Stamp Duty, among others. 

The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, declared the session open on Monday.

He said the meeting would align the participants’ collective shared goals and address certain legal issues plaguing the states.

He said, “Learned AGs of the 36 states, there are many burning issues before you today, ranging from the administration of our criminal justice system, stamp duties, Value Added Tax, the fallout from the London Paris Club Refunds culminating in the criminal bid to deprive states of $419m. 

“These require your attention, and the forum looks forward to your views and advice on the way forward. 

“The spate of insecurity across many states, political and economic uncertainties in the country and the states have placed the office of the Attorney-General on red alert in ensuring that the state is not ambushed through frivolous cases/court orders that may lead to heavy financial losses and grounding of government business. 

“We have no doubt that this meeting would afford you the opportunity to seek solutions.”

Fayemi said the NGF, through its Peace and Inclusive Security Initiative, had begun discussions with stakeholders on diverse ways to handle some of these security challenges and restore peace to communities.