Governor Chime, Others Advocate Review of Revenue Sharing Formula

Posted by African Examiner Enugu, Featured, Ignatius Okpara Sunday, September 29th, 2013

Ignatius Okpara, Enugu

Enugu state Governor, Barrister Sullivan Chime has described the current revenue sharing formula in Nigeria as lopsided, saying there is need for its review so as to ensure equity and fair play.

Chime stated this Friday in Enugu through his Deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, during a one South East zonal public hearing on the review of the Revenue Allocation Formula in Nigeria organized by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), held at Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu.

The Governor, noted that states in the South East geo-political zone are faced with enormous challenges including erosion control, cases of kidnapping among others, adding that such challenges could be tackled more effectively with increased funding.

He observed that the state government occasionally takes the responsibility of the federal government, especially in the areas of road rehabilitation and equipment of the security agencies, advising therefore that the states revenue share be upwards reviewed to accommodate such challenges.

The Governor however, proposed revenue sharing formula of 40% to the Federal Government, 40% to the States and 20% to the Local Governments.

He thanked the commission for choosing Enugu State as venue for the review exercise for the people of the South East zone, assuring participants of the state’s hospitality to them.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman of the Commission, Chief. Elias Mbam, had noted that the establishment has been engaging in advocacy and mass mobilization campaign on the review exercise through consultations, sensitizations and public hearings.

Mbam disclosed that the commission had visited the 36 states in the country,

and the FCT as well as the 774 Local Government Council Areas to sensitize Nigerians to make inputs into the review process.

According to him, zonal public hearing on the process was also held in Nasarawa State for the North Central zone, Kaduna for the North Westand the day’s on-going hearing in Enugu for the South East zone, adding that other geo-political zones would be reached in the near future.

The Commission boss noted that the exercise would give Nigerians the platform to express their views and submit memoranda on the review process.

He assured that with the level of interests and contributions made by stakeholders, the commission would leverage on inputs to produce an acceptable formula that would stand the taste of time.

The Chairman affirmed the commitment of the commission in ensuring

that all stakeholders are effectively carried along in its advocacy and mass mobilization campaign on the review process.

All the states in the South East zone made presentation at the occasion, which mostly favoured upward review of the allocation to states.

The states also called for consideration of population density, ecological problems, school enrolments, among others in revenue sharing in Nigeria.

Other stakeholders also made presentations during the event which was well attended by government officials from the South East zones.