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Amaechi, Aliyu Seek Revenue Formula Review
Rivers State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, says an equitable, fair and just revenue sharing formula is germane to development in the country.
The governor made the assertion when some federal commissioners in the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission(RMAFC) led by Chief Nimi Dambo Kalabo paid him a courtesy visit yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt.
Speaking through his Deputy, Engr Tele Ikuru, the Rivers State governor stressed that, “ the issue of revenue mobilization and allocation is core to the heart of the workings of government,’’ pointing out that it was high time a new revenue formula was worked out in the country.
Amaechi insisted that the present revenue allocation sharing formula where the producer gets less than others was unfair and undemocratic, emphasizing that it was an anomaly for the Federal Government to pay less to those who generate more.
Besides, he called for an improved allocation to the local government councils, saying,” if you say the local government areas are development centres, then more funds should be apportioned to them’’, while calling for an equitable sharing principle.
He assured that his administration would continue to partner with the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) in its sensitization drive on the new revenue formula for states of the federation.
Speaking earlier, the Federal Commissioner and the team leader, Chief Nimi Dambo-Kalabo, noted that the aim of the visit was to have an interactive session with the three arms of the government on the new revenue sharing formula with a view to ensuring that it is just and equitable, adding that “it would be in the interest of the state to bring in what should be done and not what the commission thinks it should be”.
He assured that when once the views of stakeholders were taken, a new and equitable revenue sharing would emerge, as he hinted of plans by the commission to conduct zonal workshops and fora across the country.
The federal commissioner commended the state government for the transformation and development of what he called the ‘’new garden city’’, further expressing appreciation for the hospitality they have received since their arrival.
Meanwhile, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has urged the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to reduce Federal Government’s share of federation account to 40 per cent.
Aliyu made the call in Minna yesterday when he received members of RMAFC who paid him a visit.
The governor said that under the current horizontal sharing formula, equality accounts for 40 per cent; population, 30 per cent; land mass 10 per cent; social factor, 10 per cent and revenue effort accounting for another 10 per cent.
He said under the proposed vertical sharing formula, 40 per cent of the fund should be shared based on equality of states; population, 30 per cent and land mass, another 30 per cent.
“Recent development in our national fiscal framework has introduced some factors into the dynamics of revenue sharing among the beneficiary levels of government in the country.
“These factors, unfortunately, are not so much in tandem with the desired revenue sharing objectives of the ideal federalism we are striving for’’, he said.
Aliyu said credible revenue sharing arrangement in a true federalism must be guided by the objectives of national integration, survival, justice, equity and efficient resource allocation.
The governor called for an interactive session with the government and federal law makers from the state to enable them to have first hand information on the proposed review.
This, he said, would put the state at a vantage position during debate.
He enjoined the media to educate Nigerians on why the proposed sharing formula should favour the states and local governments.
Aliyu said this is because they were closer to the people and for the much needed development at the grassroots.
Amb. Zubairu Dada who led the delegation, said they were in Minna to receive the input of the State Government and stakeholders on the proposed review of revenue allocation formula.
Dada, a Federal Commissioner with the RMAFC, said the visit would enable them to come up with acceptable formula that would guarantee a more peaceful and greater nation.
Our correspondent reports that based on the current vertical sharing formula, the federal government receives 52.68 per cent as against the states’ 26.72 percent from the federation account.
Vice President Kashim Shettima has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, for an official State visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister, Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
Upon arrival yesterday, Shettima was received at the airport by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, Dr. Gedion Timothewos, and other members of the Ethiopian and Nigerian diplomatic corps.
Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Stanley Nkwocha, revealed this in a statement he signed yesterday, titled: “VP Shettima arrives in Ethiopia for official state visit.”
During the visit, Vice President Shettima will participate in the official launch of Ethiopia’s Green Legacy Programme, a flagship environmental initiative.
The programme designed to combat deforestation, enhance biodiversity, and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change targets the planting of 20 billion tree seedlings over a four-year period.
In line with strengthening bilateral ties in agriculture and industrial development, the Vice President will also embark on a strategic tour of key industrial zones and integrated agricultural facilities across selected regions of Ethiopia.
News
RSG Tasks Farmers On N4bn Agric Loan ….As RAAMP Takes Sensitization Campaign To Four LGs In Rivers
The Rivers State Government has called on the people of the state especially farmers to access the ?4billion agricultural loans made available by the State and domiciled in the Bank of Industry.
This is as the State Project Implementation Unit (SPIU) of Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank project, took its sensitization campaign to Opobo/Nkoro, Andoni, Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas.
The campaign was aimed at enlightening community dwellers and other stakeholders in the various local government areas on the RAAMP project implementation and programme activities.
The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr Maurice Ogolo, said this at Opobo town, Ngo, Port Harcourt City and Rumuodumanya, headquarters of the four local government areas respectively, during the sensitization campaign.
Ogolo said apart from the ?4billion, the government has also made available fertilizers and other farm inputs to farmers in the various local government areas.
The Permanent Secretary who is the Chairman, State Steering Committee for the project, said RAAMP will construct roads that will connect farms to markets to enable farmers and fishermen sell their farms produce and fishes.
He also said rural roads would be constructed to farms and fishing settlements, and warned against any act that will lead to the cancellation of the projects in the four local government areas.
According to him, the World Bank and Federal Government which are the financiers of the programme will not condone such acts like kidnapping, marching ground and other acts inimical to the successful implementation of the projects in their respective areas.
At PHALGA, Ogolo asserted that the city will benefit in the areas of roads and bridge construction.
He noted that RAAMP was thriving in both the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja; Lagos and other states in the country, stressing that the project should also be given the seriousness it deserves in Rivers State.
Speaking at Opobo town, the headquarters of Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area, the project coordinator, RAAMP, Mr.Joshua Kpakol, said the programme would reduce poverty in the state.
According to him, both fishermen and farmers will maximally benefit from the programme.
At Ngo which is the headquarters of Andoni Local Government Area, Kpakol said roads will be constructed to all remote fishing settlements.
He said Rivers State is lucky to be among the states implementing the project, and stressed the need for the people to embrace it.
Meanwhile, Kpakol said at PHALGA that RAAMP is a project that will transform the lives of farmers, traders and other stakeholders in the area.
He urged the stakeholders to spread the information to their various communities.
However, some of the stakeholders at Opobo town complained about the destruction of their farms by bulls allegedly owed by traditional rulers in the area, as well as incessant stealing of their canoes at waterfronts.
At Ngo, Archbishop Elkanah Hanson, founder of El-Shaddai Church, commended the World Bank and the Federal Government for bringing the projects to Andoni.
He stressed the need for the construction of roads to fishing settlements in the area.
Also, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in the state and Okan Ama of Ekede, HRH King Gad Harry, noted that storage facilities have become necessary for a successful agricultural programme.
Harry also stressed the need for the programme to be made sustainable.
In their separate speeches, the administrators of Andoni and Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Areas, pledged their readiness to support the programme.
At Port Harcourt City, the Administrator, Dr Arthur Kalagbor, represented by the Head of Local Government Administration, Port Harcourt City, Mr Clifford Paul, said the city would support the implementation of the programme in the area.
Also, the administrator of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Dr Clifford Ndu Walter, represented by Mr Michael Elenwo, pledged to support the programme in his local government area.
Among dignitaries at the Obio/Akpor stakeholders engagement is the chairman, Rivers State Traditional Rulers Council and paramount ruler of Apara Kingdom, HRM Eze Chike Wodo, amongst others.
John Bibor
President Bola Tinubu has ordered the commencement of personnel audit and skill gap analysis across all cadres of federal civil servants.
The president gave this directive in Abuja, yesterday, while speaking at the International Civil Service Conference, reaffirming his resolve to achieve efficiency and professional service delivery in the civil service.
“I have authorized the comprehensive personnel audit and skill gap analysis across the federal civil service to deepen capacity. I urge all responsible stakeholders to prioritize timely completion of this critical exercise, to begin implementing targeted reforms, to realize the full benefit of a more agile, competent and responsive civil service,” the president announced.
Tinubu further directed all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to prioritise data integrity and sovereignty in national interest.
He called for the capture, protection and strategic publication of public sector data in line with the Nigeria Data Protection Act of 2023.
“We must let our data speak for us. We must publish verified data assets within Nigeria and share them internationally recognized as fruitful. This will allow global benchmarking organisation to track our progress in real time and help us strengthen our position on the world stage. This will preserve privacy and uphold data sovereignty,” Tinubu added.
President Tinubu hailed the federal civil service as the “engine” driving his Renewed Hope Agenda, and the vehicle for delivering sustainable national development.
He submitted that the roles of civil servants remain indispensable in modern governance, declaring that in the face of a fast-evolving digital and economic landscape, the civil service must remain agile, future-ready, and results-driven.
“This maiden conference is a bold step toward redefining governance in an era of rapid transformation. An innovative Civil Service ensures we meet today’s needs and overcome tomorrow’s challenges.
“It captures our collective ambition to reimagine and reposition the civil service. In today’s rapid, evolving world of technology, innovation remains critical in ensuring that the civil service is dynamic, digital” the President said.
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack in her welcome address told the President that his presence and strong words of commendation at the conference has renewed the morale and mandate of public servants across the country.
Walson-Jack described Tinubu as the backbone of driving transformation in the Nigerian civil service, and noted that the takeaways from past study tours undertaken to understudy the civil service in Singapore, the UK and US under her leadership, is already yielding multiplier effects.
Walson-Jack assured Tinubu that her office, in collaboration with reform-minded stakeholders, will not relent in accelerating the implementation of the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan, FCSSIP 25.
She affirmed that digitalisation, performance management, and continuous learning remain key pillars in strengthening accountability, transparency, and service delivery across MDAs.
Walson-Jack reaffirmed that the civil service is determined to exceed expectations by embedding a culture of innovation, ethical leadership, and citizen-centred governance in the heart of public administration.