The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Imo State has criticized the state government over its poor Value Added Tax (VAT) performance, describing it as evidence of a failing economy under Governor Hope Uzodinma’s administration.
The party’s stance follows the release of VAT data for the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
In a press release signed by its State Publicity Secretary, Lancelot Obiaku, and shared with journalists, the PDP accused the governor’s leadership of creating an environment unattractive to investors. The party expressed dismay that Imo recorded the lowest VAT revenue in the entire country, generating only ₦235.41 million. In comparison, Zamfara, the second-lowest, generated ₦432.80 million—a figure nearly double Imo’s.
“To put this into perspective,” the statement read, “Imo’s VAT revenue is almost half of what Zamfara, the second-worst-performing state, generated. Even within the Southeast, Abia generated three times more than Imo, while Ebonyi’s figure was nearly ten times higher. Anambra, on the other hand, recorded twenty times Imo’s VAT revenue.”
The party highlighted the stark disparity between Imo’s VAT revenue and Lagos State’s, noting that Imo contributed a mere 0.2% of Lagos’s total. This, according to the PDP, underscores the poor state of Imo’s economy.
Explaining the implications of the figures, Obiaku said, “VAT is a consumption tax applied to goods and services, and its performance is directly linked to the productivity and health of a state’s economy. Imo’s dismal VAT record mirrors the comatose state of its business environment and overall economy.”
The PDP further criticized the Uzodinma administration for allegedly lacking a coherent economic strategy to address the declining fortunes of the state. “There is no evidence of a viable economic blueprint to reverse this trend. The current administration’s policies are clearly not working, and this is reflected in the state’s dismal productivity,” the statement concluded.
The party urged the government to prioritize economic revival and create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
