Nigeria

Nigerian governors call for review of sharing formula

Tuesday, December 24, 2019 at 9:22 AM by Nnenna Ibeh

- Nigerian governors on Monday, December 23, called for a review the sharing formula for allocations

- The governors said they will discuss with President Muhammadu Buhari on the proposed review

- Led by the chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum, Kayode Fayemi, the governors said the chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) would also join them (the governors) to take up the matter with the president

Governors across 36 states in Nigeria have called for a review of the sharing formula for the federal revenue allocations.

The governors led by the chairman of the Nigerian Governors' Forum, Kayode Fayemi, after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said the chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) would also join them (the governors) to take up the matter with the president.

Fayemi said there has been agitation from governors on the sharing formula since the days that former president Olusegun Obasanjo governed.

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He said: “We feel that it’s time for the revenue sharing formula to change and we have made a representation to the President and Commander-in-Chief not just under the Buhari’s administration, this has been an ongoing agitation that started way back since the time of President Olusegun Obasanjo."

He also said that RMAFC saddled with the responsibility for these allocations would do its own due diligence, consult widely with critical stakeholders.

Noting the presence of RMAFC in all states presently would fast-track the review process, Fayemi said: "Every State has a representative at RMAFC as you know and only last week, RMAFC held a retreat on this and other matters and I believe they will communicate the position."

"Now that we have a full-fledged RMAFC in place with a Chairman and other members appointed, it is our expectation that this would be taken up by RMAFC with Mr President in a manner that we have taken it up.” the governor added.