The Lagos chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council of Nigeria (IPAC), an umbrella body of registered political parties, has backed the Lagos House of Assembly for passing the value-added tax (VAT) and anti-open grazing bills.

IPAC described the bills as “timely and met the yearnings of the people.”

Abiodun Salami, IPAC’s publicity secretary, disclosed this in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

He noted that the Lagos lawmakers’ action was a bold step towards bringing a harmonious relationship among the ethnic groups in the state.

“The bills would not only enhance the economy of the state but also guide against lawlessness. With the anti-open grazing bill, the peaceful coexistence of farmers and herders would further promote unity and development,” said the IPAC scribe. “The VAT bill is long overdue, and we support the action of the lawmakers because the bill would promote fiscal federalism, which the people have been yearning for.”

IPAC further noted that “the VAT bill is long overdue for us in Lagos because the majority of the monies collected as VAT by the federal government were from Lagos.”

IPAC explained that despite Lagos’ huge contributions to VAT, the federal government only allocated a meagre sum to the state, “which is unacceptable, painful and a huge loss to the state.”

The group expressed confidence in the quick assent to the bills by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

“Now that the bill has been passed and which is certain to be assented to quickly by the governor, development will continue to spread across the state because Lagos will have more money to execute more infrastructural projects in all areas of the state,” Mr Salami reasoned. “The Anti-Open Grazing bill will also promote the economics of cattle rearing and crop farming. It is a bill which benefits both the pastoralists and crop farmers in the state.”

IPAC also commended the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, for his leadership in ensuring that the assembly remained “above the common standard.”

(NAN)