Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Mr. Elias Mbam, on Monday, said the review of the revenue allocation formula had become necessary for fairness, justice, and equity.
Mbam made the declaration at the opening of a two-day South-west Zonal Public Hearing On The Review Of The Vertical Revenue Allocation Formula on Monday, in Lagos State.
He said the commission had started the process of reviewing the subsisting Vertical Revenue Allocation Formula in line with changing realities.
“The last review of the revenue allocation formula was in 1992. Since then, a lot of socio-economic changes have occurred, hence, necessitated the need for a review to reflect changing realities.
“RMAFC by virtue of paragraph 32(b), part 1 of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) is empowered ‘ to review from time to time the revenue allocation formula and principles in operation.
“This is to ensure conformity with changing realities, provided that any revenue formula which had been accepted by an Act of the National Assembly shall remain in force for a period of not less than five years from the date of commencement of the Act,” ” he said.
According to him, the commission had called for memoranda on the review of the formula from stakeholders including Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s ), academia, and the general public to achieve this.
The chairman stated that the commission had undertaken sensitization visits to all the States and Local Governments as part of the process to ensure that the generality of Nigerians was carried along.
“In addition, relevant data has been collected from relevant government agencies, ” he said.
Mbam promised that the commission would take all the views and recommendations of stakeholders at the public hearing into consideration while enjoining them to participate actively and effectively in the process.
He lauded Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for accepting to host the hearing and commended the Governors of Ogun, Osun, Oyo, Ondo, and Ekiti for their active participation.
The commission’s boss noted that the zonal public hearing would be replicated in the other five geo-political zones.
The Lagos State Government through its Commissioner For Finance, Dr. Rabiu Olowo, recommended that the allocation formula should be reviewed.
Olowo said the Federal Government, including the Federal Capital Territory, should be given 34 percent, State Government 42 percent, Local Government Councils 23 percent, and Lagos State (special status) 1 percent.
Representing Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State, the Commissioner For Finance, Mr. Dapo Ogunbamij, recommended 30 percent of the allocation for the Federal Government, 45 percent for states, and 25 percent for the local governments.
Meanwhile, various civil society groups, amongst other stakeholders at the public hearing, suggested that the largest chunk of the revenue formula be allocated to the local government to propel infrastructure and human development to emanate from the grassroots.
