South South Governors Set to Launch Regional Security Outfit

 

South South Governors have revealed plan to set up their own regional security outfit.

 

The governors under the umbrella of the south-south governors forum, however, did not disclose when the security outfit will be launched.

 

The governors took the decision during a meeting of the forum in Port Harcourt on Monday.

 

Amongst other resolutions passed at the meeting, the forum also resolved that the governments of the states in the region would join in the suit challenging the collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) by state governments.

 

The chairman of the forum and Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, who read out the resolutions, said “we approve the regional security architecture which would be launched very soon.”

 

He also disclosed that the governors “unequivocally supports the decision for states to collect value added tax and resolve to join the suit before the Supreme court.”

 

They also asked “the National Assembly and the President to take necessary measures to review some unfair aspects of the recently signed Petroleum industry bill now act to ensure fairness and equity.”

 

The meeting was attended by Governors of Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom and Rivers.

 

Cross Rivers State Governor, Ben Ayade was, however, absent from the meeting.