The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has called for a review of the revenue allocation formula to ensure that funds are disbursed directly from the Federation Account to local government chairmen, in accordance with the recent Supreme Court ruling affirming local government financial autonomy.
RMAFC arrived at this decision at the end of a workshop in Akwa Ibom State. In a communiqué, the commission said that it aligns itself with the Supreme Court’s judgement of July 11, 2024, on local government financial autonomy, considering the fact that the current formula has been in existence for about 16 years.
The communiqué also called for a constitutional amendment to allow the inclusion of the local government chairmen and councillors among the beneficiaries of the remuneration package listed in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.
It stated that Section 162(6) of the Constitution should be amended to ensure that the allocations of the local governments are paid directly to them from the Federation Account, in line with the Supreme Court’s ruling delivered on July 11, 2024, on local government financial autonomy.
The communiqué called for the amendment of Section 162(2) to establish a clear timeline for presidential submission of RMAFC proposals to the National Assembly.
Besides, the commission called for the establishment of a National Revenue Dashboard for digital, real-time revenue tracking.
“The commission should advocate the amendment of the relevant sections of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to expand the composition of the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited to include representatives of states, local governments, and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN); creation of a distinct Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, separate from that of the Federal Government,” it said.
The commission, in the communiqué, said it would intensify its constitutional mandate of monitoring revenue accruals to ensure that all revenues due to the Federation Account are remitted accurately and promptly by the revenue-generating agencies.
The communiqué also stated that, according to the spirit and letter of the Constitution, the advice of the RMAFC on the remuneration package of political, public, and judicial office holders is binding on the federal and state governments.
The retreat was attended by top federal and state officials, such as the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, represented by Dr. Ibrahim Muhammad Natagwandu, and the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno who delivered a goodwill message; the chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq; chairman, Senate Committee on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Senator Yahaya Abdullahi and other distinguished personalities.
