All the states in the South-South Geopolitical Zone have agreed to join the legal battle over the collection of Value Added Tax.
The VAT, which started between Rivers State and the Federal Inland Revenue Service, already has the Lagos State government involved.
The South-South Governors’ Forum took the decision at its meeting at the Rivers State Government House in Port Harcourt yesterday.
The Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, announced the decision while briefing newsmen after the meeting.
Governor Okowa said they also called on the National Assembly to take advantage of the proposed amendment of the Petroleum Industry Act to include demands by people of the oil producing states.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the South-South Governors’ Forum also agreed to set up a joint regional security outfit to address the wave of criminal activities in the six states.
On the forensic audit of the Niger Delta Development Commission; the South-South governors called for the report to be made public.
Meanwhile; only Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State was absent at the meeting of the South-South Governors’ Forum in Port Harcourt yesterday.