Business
Loot Recovery: RMAFC Faults NASS On Management Agency
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) says the bill seeking to establish an agency to manage recovered assets and funds from looters is unnecessary.
Acting Chairman Shettima Abba-Gana said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, Monday.
Mr Jones Onyereri had in 2017 sponsored a bill to establish an agency called Nigerian Assets Management Agency (NAMA) that would be responsible for management of all seized and forfeited funds and assets recovered by various security agencies and courts.
The bill, which has passed its second reading, seeks to ensure proper coordination of all Federal Government owned assets whether existing or acquired through seizures, court orders and forfeitures.
Abba-Gana, however, said that creating such agency would only result in duplication of agencies as there were other existing agencies that could carry out the responsibility.
“The commission’s position is very clear and we wrote as such to the National Assembly informing them that there is no need to create such agency when there are several agencies that can manage assets of government.
“We recommended Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and there is the Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) which can also manage assets.
“Therefore, creating another agency when two agencies exist that can manage these assets is absolutely unnecessary.
“We will just be paying salaries unnecessarily and putting burden on taxpayers.
“And the lesser cost of governance becomes and efficient, the less it will be a burden to taxpayers and on businesses and the more the private sector will thrive,” he said.
He said that one of the mandates of the RMAFC was to give fiscal advice and monitor accruals and disbursement of funds to and from the federation account.
The acting chairman also said that the commission was also mandated to look at general fiscal issues.
According to him, if the laws that established these existing agencies did not give room for them to handle such responsibilities, then the laws can be modified to accommodate what is needed.
He said that it was easier to modify, alter or amend the law than to create a brand new agency.
“If you check the laws or mandate establishing these agencies, like that of the RMAFC, there is a provision at the end of it that says apart from its specific mandate; it can carry out any other assignments given to it by the authorities.
“So, it means that there is an opening for even more work to come to the commission if the National Assembly passes it.
“So, for most of these agencies, they also have the same provision that any other assignment by the National Assembly or the president should be carried out.
Nkpemenyie Mcdominic
Reports say that the training is designed to equip youths with practical technical skills for employment in the oil and gas and construction sectors, with emphasis on employability, safety, competence and self reliance.
In attendance at the flag-off ceremony this week, at the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI) Conference Hall, Effurun, were stakeholders, dignitaries, and political representatives, among others.
Dafinone, represented by his Chief of Staff, Adelabu Bodjor, said the initiative reflects a deliberate political investment in human capital development across Delta Central.
He explained that the training focuses on rigging and scaffolding, noting that “both are essential technical competencies required in industrial operations, construction projects, and oil and gas installations”.
Bodjor added, “The programme is intended to reduce dependency among youths by providing job-ready skills capable of supporting long-term economic opportunities and self-sufficiency. The initiative aligns with Senator Dafinone’s broader development agenda, which prioritises practical skill acquisition as a pathway to sustainable empowerment.”
Also addressing the participants, the NCDMB, Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by Mr. Teddy Bai, commended Dafinone for sponsoring the programme, describing it as “a timely response to critical manpower gaps in the industry”.
Bai explained that rigging and scaffolding remain safety-sensitive skills required across fabrication yards, offshore platforms, and construction sites, stressing that the programme bridges the gap between certification and practical competence.
He also charged the training consultant, OROH Contractors Limited, to maintain strict standards of professionalism, safety, and discipline, while urging participants to remain committed, focused, and disciplined throughout the exercise.
The Senate Liaison Officer for Sapele Local Government Area, Chief Patrick Akamuvba, , described the programme as a major step in strengthening human capital development in Delta Central.
Akamuvba said scaffolding and rigging skills are in high demand across residential, commercial, and industrial construction projects, noting that the training offers real employment opportunities for beneficiaries
He urged participants to prioritise knowledge and certification over short-term material expectations, stressing that discipline and seriousness would determine their long-term success.
He also cautioned youths against social vices and distractions, advising them to remain focused to maximise the opportunities provided by the programme.
