L- R: Commissioner for Finance, Ekiti State, Mr. Dapo Kolawole; Assistant Administration Officer, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Mr. Bob Ikuesewo; Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi; RMAFC Commissioner, Dr Afolabi Popoola; and Assistance Director, (RMAFC), Mr. Mustafa Mohammed, during the visit of the Commission to Ekiti State.
The Ekiti State Government has lamented what it described as the marginalization of the State in resource distribution; saying that despite its contribution to the country’s economy, it Nigeria has given little back to the State.
Speaking at a sensitization programme on the proposed review of revenue allocation formula held with officials of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC), the State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi as well as various stakeholders in the State expressed dismay at the present lopsided allocation formula which gave lion share to the Federal Government; leaving meagre portion for the State and Local Governments.
The RMFAC team was led by the Commissioner representing Ekiti State in the commission, Dr Afolabi Popoola.
Governor Fayemi who noted that the arrangement has hindered development at the level of State and Local Governments in the country stated that Ekiti people have given much to the nation in the areas of Agriculture and Human Resources yet the State is at the bottom ladder of the allocation.
Fayemi who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Ganiyu Owolabi explained that in spite of the meagre resources that accrue to the State, the participatory governance and accountability approach of the administration has enabled it leverage the goodwill and cooperation of all stakeholders; leading to the development of the State.
Meanwhile an elder statesman, Chief Deji Fasuan has urged the Revenue Commission to always stand up to defend the rights of every Nigerian saying that this right begins with the equitable distribution of resources available to the nation.
Fasuan, an Ekiti brand ambassador, noted that the existing vertical revenue formula has proved to be lopsided, inequitable and inappropriate for the country; adding that the constitution which set up the statutory body foresaw a just and equitable society but the realities of the present-day Nigeria have proved that certain unforeseen dislocations have occurred and are likely to continue unless deliberate adjustments are made.
He suggested a vertical allocation formula that gives 40% to the Federal government, 33% to the State Governments and 16 to local governments; saying that a re-appraisal is necessary in the horizontal sector to give 65% to equality, 20% to population, 10% to IGR and 5% to social development factor.
Chief Fasuan stressed that the idea of rewarding ‘landmark’ excessively in the horizontal formula is outmoded hence ‘land utilization’ should be a more appropriate yardstick while considering land factor.
Also speaking at the interactive session, the Chairman of Association of Local Governments of Nigerian, Ekiti State Chapter and caretaker chairman of Efon Local Government, Dr Adio Folayan affirmed lopsidedness in the 2001 Revenue Allocation formula, saying that there has been much growth in population, infrastructure and other indices which now places more responsibilities on both the State and Local governments than the federal government which gets the proportional lion share.
Folayan added that it is not uncommon to see many State Governments including Ekiti taking over responsibilities which are abandoned by the federal government leading to the federal government owing States Billions of Naira.
He urged the Federal Government to release funds owed States on federal projects while it also fulfils its responsibilities by taking up its abandoned projects and new ones across the States of the federation.
Also speaking on behalf of the Civil Society, the Executive Director of the New Initiative for Social Development, Mr Abiodun Oyeleye stated that there is a need for a proper definition and functioning of federalism in Nigeria; stressing that federalism has the prospect of nipping ethnicity, corruption and nepotism in the bud when it is properly operated.
He added that the issue of determining the control and sharing of national wealth among constituencies within a federal structure is crucial because the political, social and economic stability of the country depends on this.
Earlier, the federal commissioner representing Ekiti State at RMFAC, Dr Afolabi Popoola had said that the interactive session was to know the views of stakeholders in the State on the proposed review of the revenue formula and to get people’s input as the Commission poises to review the formula.
Last modified: July 17, 2013
