By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has charged the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to ensure a thorough and inclusive process in developing a new revenue allocation formula that would be both workable and acceptable to all stakeholders in the country.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, CON, issued the directive while receiving a delegation from the Commission led by its Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja.
According to a statement signed by the Director of Information and Public Relations in the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Segun Imohiosen, the SGF expressed confidence in the ability of the Commission’s management to deliver a robust and equitable formula. He also assured the delegation of his Office’s full support in facilitating the exercise.
Senator Akume emphasised the need for the proposed revenue allocation structure to reflect the strategic importance of certain Ministries, Departments and Agencies, particularly the Ministry of Defence, given its critical role in safeguarding national peace and territorial integrity. “Some key institutions, such as the Ministry of Defence, must receive an irreducible minimum allocation because of the essential security services they provide,” he stated.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, informed the SGF that work on the new revenue allocation formula was at an advanced stage, adding that a draft version of the proposal would soon be submitted to the Office of the SGF for review prior to its transmission to the National Assembly for consideration and approval.
Dr. Shehu reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to developing a fair and sustainable framework that would address existing fiscal imbalances and support socio-economic development across the country.
