Nation

New Revenue Sharing Formula Ready, Dec -RMAFC

Published

11 years ago

August 9, 2013

The Chairman, Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr Elias Mbam, on Wednesday said the new revenue allocation formula would be ready for approval by December.
Mbam made this known in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.
The chairman said that the commission would present the new plan as a recommended formula to President Goodluck Jonathan for consideration and afterwards it would be passed to the National Assembly to be approved as law.
“We expect that by December before the end of the year, we present to Mr President our recommendation of the formula on revenue sharing for onward transmission to the National Assembly for further discussion.
“We have progressed much, we have done several studies of fiscal matters, we have toured other federations to compare their fiscal arrangements and be able to get their experiences and use the experience as part of what we can apply in our own case.
“Also we have sensitised the people and collected data from 774 local governments, and the 36 states and also the FCT. And then we have done a literature review of all fiscal arrangements that had been done before independence till date.
“So we have all the records and we are in the process of commissioning a lead consultant. And the next stage we are in is to carry out zonal advocacy. We have gone to all states to sensitise them, we have consulted elders; we have consulted opinion leaders, we have consulted Civil Societies.
“And so, what we are to do next after we have visited all the zones is to bring all the reports together, analyse them and then come up with a position of majority of Nigerians.“
Mbam said that the present formula needed to be reviewed because a lot had changed since it was designed 21 years ago.
He added that though President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration modified the formula a bit to conform to the 1999 Constitution and it needed to be further revised.
“The constitution says that after five years, a commission should look at changing realities. What has changed within that period, does it require a review in terms of what was due for Mr A, for Mr B.
“If you look at the present formula, the last time it was reviewed actually was 1992 and from 1992 till now, it’s almost 21 years, and you can agree with me that since 1992 till now, a lot have changed.
“The population has changed; all the indices used in determining the formula have changed. So because of these changes, we need to update the record, we need to also know what are the main challenges of socio economy of Nigeria.
“When we are talking about revenue allocation formula, we are considering two levels of sharing; one is among the three tiers of government, the Federal Government, the state government and the local government.
“These three levels have percentages; the Federal Government will take its own percentage, fortunately, it is not sharing with anybody.
“But when they give the states their own percentages, they now have to share within the states. Each state gets 26.7 per cent for instance, what per cent of that will go to Anambra, to Sokoto, to Borno.
“That sharing among those states and among the local governments, within their own percentage allocation is what we call horizontal allocation.
“But among the three levels of government, the federal, state and local government is what we call the vertical sharing, but many people are only concerned about the vertical but it is also important to look at the horizontal.“

Nation

VCDF in Partnership with LDSVA Sensitise Women on Gender Equality, Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurship

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

The Tide

Women, the pillars of our society, are resilient and determined as they play essential roles in nurturing families and leading businesses. Despite facing challenges like limited financial resources and unequal opportunities, they persist, inspiring generations and driving positive change.

In honour of Women’s History Month, Vcare for Development Foundation (VCDF), in collaboration with Sterling Oil Exploration & Energy Production Co. Ltd. (SEEPCO) and the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (LDSVA), embarked on a transformative journey to empower 100 community women, focusing on sexual and domestic violence prevention, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship, on March 27, 2024, in Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State.

When women are empowered, they become catalysts for progress, influencing not only their own lives but also the lives of their families and those around them. The programme gave the women the opportunity to acquire knowledge on tools that can help their businesses grow, also providing a safe space for women to learn and connect with others, making them feel more confident and capable in making decisions for their businesses.

Distinguished guests present at the event were Mrs. Bello Oluwakemi, Head of the Field Operations Department, Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency (LDSVA), Chief Mrs. Eletu-Odibo Wasilat, Community Development Committee Chairman of Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State, and Mrs. Adenike Akintoye, Head of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Unit, Eti Osa LGA.

While giving her feedback, Chief Mrs. Eletu-Odibo Wasilat said, “community-driven efforts like this initiative are instrumental in driving sustainable change and enabling women to realise their full potential.”

Mrs. Bello Oluwakemi noted during her closing remark, “training women in our communities will improve their livelihoods and contribute to household income, thereby leading to better standards of living.”

This collaborative initiative aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – Gender Equality (SDG 5) and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), which aim to ensure everyone is treated equally and reduce differences between people.

VCDF will continue to educate and empower women for a greater inclusion in society, supporting their advancement and ensuring their meaningful participation in all spheres of life. Together, let us continue to champion the cause of women, celebrate their achievements, and pave the way for a brighter and more equitable future for all.

Nation

Ibom Developers Supports 160 Women with Skill Acquisition Training in Akwa Ibom

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2024

The Tide

Empowering women with vocational skills is a vital step towards fostering gender equality and inclusive growth in society. This effort involves equipping women with practical expertise that can be applied across various aspects of life, including professional, personal, and entrepreneurial settings. Ibom Developers’ recent initiatives to provide skill acquisition training to women in its host communities aim to help them thrive in society.

On April 8, 2024, Ibom Developers commenced its ongoing skill acquisition training programme, themed ‘Virtuous Women’ in Egwenwe and Okoroinyong communities.
Dignitaries, including His Royal Highness Chief Johnson J. Osiba (Ijongo IV), the Okaama of Egwenwe Community; Mr. Warribo Isaiah, Community Development Chairman, Egwenwe Community; Pastor Johnson Christian Ubulom, Youth President, Egwenwe Community; Mrs. Catherine Monday Ogbofork, Women Leader of Egwenwe Community; Mrs. Sarah Evans Nfeija, Health Officer, Egwenwe Community; and representatives from Okoroinyong community, were present at the inaugural event.

This skill acquisition programme aims to empower 160 women in these communities with expertise in catering, packaging, hairdressing, wigging, ventilation, and styling. The program took place from April 8 to April 20, 2024, at Egwenwe Town Hall and Okoroinyong Town Hall in Eastern Obolo LGA, Akwa Ibom State, imparting essential entrepreneurial skills to the women in the communities.

During the inaugural event, Chief Johnson J. Osiba (Ijongo IV), the Okaama of Egwenwe Community, expressed, ‘‘This empowerment initiative will provide our women with the autonomy and decision-making power they need to become self-sufficient contributors to the growth and development of our community.’’

The participation of women in several economic activities makes their upliftment a potent strategy for economic growth. Their involvement expands the workforce, cultivating heightened innovation and efficiency within the community.

Mrs. Catherine Monday Ogbofork, Women Leader of Egwenwe Community, emphasised, “Access to training tailored to the needs of women allow them to develop specialised skills. I am glad that this programme has offered options that suit our women’s preferences and goals.’’

Acquiring skills for livelihood elevates family status and unlocks entrepreneurial avenues. Ibom Developers is dedicated to promoting entrepreneurship among women and supporting socio-economic empowerment in local communities.