By Amina Abdullahi Girbo Bauchi
On Monday in Bauchi, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) informed key stakeholders in the state about the review of the vertical revenue allocation formula.
Speaking at the start of the sensitization program at the Zaranda Hotel in Bauchi, the Federal Commissioner in Charge of Bauchi and Gombe states in the Commission, Mohammed Kabir Usman, said the program’s goal is to educate all major stakeholders, particularly states and local governments, on the importance of participating in and making relevant contributions to the review process.
According to Kabir Usman, the exercise will help the Commission develop a just, fair, equitable, and acceptable Revenue Allocation Formula for the county.
“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 contribute positively towards ensuring the success of the review.”
He stated that the sensitization exercise was designed to enlist the interests of stakeholders through interaction at various levels in order for them to become informed and provide useful inputs that can provide a workable template to assist the Commission in its task of evolving and leaving the nation a fair, just, and equitable new revenue sharing formula.
According to him, one of the constitutional functions of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is to review the revenue allocation formula and principles in place on a regular basis to ensure conformity with changing realities.
Mohammed Kabir Usman reiterated that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission is eager to provide a generally acceptable new Revenue sharing formula that will meet the yearnings and expectations of the three tiers of government for the benefit of the citizenry as soon as possible.
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.