Immediate-past Bayelsa governor, Senator Seriake Dickson, has alleged that currently taxes that supposed to be paid to the state are given to Lagos State.
Dickson who is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, alleged this in an interview with Punchng where he declared support for the controversial executive bill on tax reforms.
The ex-governor, now representing Bayelsa West Senatorial District in Red Chamber in his statement also said no amount of opposition would stop the bill from being passed.
“The Senate has passed the bills for second reading. Public hearings will take place and people should get ready to present their positions.
“The tax bill is a law like every other law and it has to go through the normal legislative process. Right now, taxes from Bayelsa State are paid to Lagos State and I don’t want that to continue.
“When there is the consumption of any goods or services from any state, it should be calculated and paid to that state. Now there is an opportunity to review the tax laws, to correct the anomalies and that’s why I’m in support.
“I know there are states that are feeling that when they apply the new sharing formula, they will earn less. It’s for them to raise those issues and bring the statistics. I don’t go by sentiments. I go by what is right and in the national interest.
“There will be no uproar. A public hearing is an opportunity for people to present their matters, and nobody is going to be intimidated by the uproar.
“The PIA was passed. We wanted 10% which was what Yar’Adua proposed. They (federal lawmakers) reduced it to 3%. Heaven did not fall. These tax reform bills will pass and heavens will not fall,” the news medium quoted him as saying.
