Stakeholders from the North East geo-political zone have advocated for the review of revenue sharing formula, to increase allocation to states and local government councils in the country.
They made the call at a public hearing on the review of the vertical revenue allocation formula for the North East zone held in Gombe on Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the forum was organized by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
The stakeholders said the call was imperative to allow the states and LGCs to have more resources for the development of their respective states.
They described as lopsided the current formula where the Federal Government received 52.68 per cent; states 26.72 per cent and 20.60 to the LGCs.
Gov. Inuwa Yahaya, who inaugurated the forum, said that the sharing structure should be tailored towards more people centred, equitable and fairer allocation formula.
“Where the Federal Government earns 40 per cent, the states 35 per cent and the LGCs 25 per cent is the consensus view of our people and is hereby proposed to the RMAFC,” he said.
NAN reports that representatives of Adamawa, Bauchi and Taraba corroborated earlier opinion, and called for the review of the formula.
However, the representatives of Borno and Yobe States made different submissions from those of their counterparts in Gombe, Adamawa, Bauchi and Taraba.
While Borno proposed 45 per cent allocation to the Federal Government; 40 per cent to the states and 15 per cent to LGAs, Yobe wants the FG to get 40 per cent, states 37 and LGCs 23.
Also speaking, Mr. Elias Mbam, RMAFC’s Chairman, said the exercise was designed to interact and get inputs of stakeholders from the North East, to enrich the process of developing a new revenue sharing formula.
“We will look at all the inputs we have received and come up with what will be in the interest of the majority of Nigerians,” he said.
Mbam said that the North East was the last zones to hold public hearing on the proposed review of revenue sharing formula, adding that a grand finale would hold in Abuja.
“I can assure you that since we have inputs from all states and LGCs of the federation; we have enough to work on, and our decision will reflect the wishes of the majority of the people.”
NAN reports that representatives from all the six North Eastern states submitted their proposals to the commission during the exercise. (NAN)
