Katsina State Governor, Aminu Masari, has come under heavy criticism for dismissing moves by Lagos and Rivers states to start collecting the Value Added Tax directly.

Groups, including the Pan Niger Delta Forum, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and civil rights groups, in separate interviews berated Masari over his comment on VAT.

They stated this as the Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the Southern Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, stated that the move by the Federal Inland Revenue Service to amend the VAT law would not succeed.

The Federal High Court sitting in Port Harcourt had last month held that Rivers State had the constitutional right to collect VAT within its territory.

But the Court of Appeal in its ruling on the appeal filed by the FIRS on September 10 ordered a stay of execution of the judgment of the Federal High Court.

But in its reaction, PANDEF described comments by Masari as irresponsible.