By Seyi Babalola
Indications are rife that the governors in the country are getting restive over the non-payment of Stamp Duty proceeds due to the states.
A source who is a close aide to one of the Northern governors Bello Musa, told this reporter that for the period from 2015 to date over ten trillion Naira have been accumulated and the Federal Government has over time accessed the funds without paying the states their dues.
Asked what line of action the states will take if the payments are not made, the source said the governors although in dialogue with the federal government will not hesitate to head to court as the governors believe the acting Governor of the CBN, Mr. Folashodun Shonubi has been coy with the matter and may not be advising President Tinubu correctly.
The aide said the Governors are particularly disturbed that proceeds from stamp duty which is a revenue stream for all tiers of government have been withheld by the Central Bank and the federal Government, noting that “this is money every state can use now especially now that citizens are hurting instead of the token that the Federal Government is handing out to the states. This is unfair to our citizens”
