Participants at the sensitization programme organised by Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), want a review of the federation allocation formula to enable other tiers of government get better allocation than the current practice.
Speaking at the sensitization programme in Jos, a Federal Commissioner RMAFC, Yusufu Pam, observed that there is the need to review the revenue formula from time to time as stipulated by the constitution, hence the commission’s effort in collating and creating the awareness of the exercise across the nation.
Adding that, the Commission is set to “review allocation formula from time to time in conformity with changing realities.”
The need to review the present federal allocation formula and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities as well as having a virile federation informed the RMAFC to embark on a sensitization exercise across the country as a prelude to the submission of findings from stakeholders.
Participants at the event in Jos, north central Nigeria including local government chairmen, principal officers from the public service as well as civil rights society were of the opinion that there is the need to review the current allocation formula which tend to favour the federal government at the expense of the states and local government councils across the nation.
Contributing at the exercise, some of the local government chairmen desired a change in the revenue sharing in order to meaningful impact at the grassroots where majority of the people reside.
Chairman of Barkin-Ladi Local Government Area, Emmanuel Loman said the present formula by which, all the 774 local governments across the country take less than a quarter of federal revenue was unfair to them.
Loman said the present formula ‘which gives so little’ to local councils does not accord due regard to rural development.
The Plateau State Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) added that, “a situation in which federal Government
agencies return unused funds while people at the grassroots are suffering deprivation is not right.
Also speaking, Management Committee Chairman of Riyom Local Government Area, Sam Gyang Audu complained that, “we are suffering. 774 Local Government Areas is a huge population. The allocation formula should be reviewed to make the federal government receive 45 percent, States 30 percent, and LGAs 25 percent. We deserve more funding because we are increasingly being drawn into even security issues that are federal Ggvernment’s responsibility.”
Plateau state Finance Commissioner, Davou Mang alsosupported the clamouri for a change in the present formula.
The three tiers of government currently have their respective allocations in this order: Federal Government: 52.68 percent; state governments: 26.62 percent, and local governments: 20.06 percent.
