Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, on Wednesday, threatened to “take over” all offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service in the oil-rich South-South state if the government agency continues with its “bullying”.
The governor spoke at a stakeholders’ meeting in Port Harcourt, the state capital, while addressing business owners in the state.
The governor also warned the oil companies and business owners not to remit their VAT to FIRS but the Rivers State Government.
“From this September, we will start collecting our VAT,” Wike said, warning that his government “will not look back but seal up the premises of companies” who fail to comply with the new directive.
The governor also noted that the state does not need the Nigeria Police Force to enforce the collection of VAT but would use the state-created security outfit backed by the law.