By Muslim Lawal
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) on Monday in Bauchi sensitized critical stakeholders in the state on the review of the vertical revenue allocation formula.
Speaking at the opening of the sensitization held at Zaranda Hotel Bauchi, the Federal Commissioner in Charge of Bauchi and Gombe states in the Commission, Mohammed Kabir Usman said the sensitization program is to enlighten all major stakeholders particularly the states and Local Governments on the need to participate and make relevant contributions in the process of the review.
Kabir Usman said the exercise will assist the Commission to come up with a just, fair, equitable and acceptable Revenue Allocation Formula for the country.
“The conduct of this sensitization program became necessary because the political structure of the country has since changed with the creation of six additional states in 1996, which brought the number of states to 36. Correspondingly, the number of Local Government Councils also increased from 589 to 774.”
“Various interest groups are yearnings for the review particularly, the State Governments, and therefore I want you to use this opportunity to urge participants to please contribute positively towards ensuring the success of the review.”
He said the sensitization exercise has been designed to enlist the interests of stakeholders through interaction at various levels in order to get informed and make useful inputs that can provide workable template to assist the Commission in its task of evolving and bequeathing to the nation a fair, just and equitable new revenue sharing formula.
According to him, one of the constitutional function of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is to review from time to time, the revenue allocation formula and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities.
Mohammed Kabir Usman reiterated that, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is greatly desirous to provide within the shortest time possible, a generally acceptable new Revenue sharing formula which will meet the yearnings and expectations of the three-tiers of government for the benefit of citizenry.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Ibrahim Kashim welcomed the ongoing review of the vertical revenue allocation formula, describing it as a welcome development.
The governor applauded the federal government for the move to review the allocation formula and charged the participants to make useful contributions that will meet the yearnings and expectations of both government and citizenry.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Bauchi State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Yahuza Adamu Haruna assured the commitment of the state government towards ensuring the success of the review sensitization exercise in the state.
