- Non release of funds delays pay review for political, judicial office holders
BY COBHAM NSA – It promises are kept, then the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is positive that Nigeria will have a new Revenue Allocation Formula (RAF) before the end of 2021.
This is as the Commission blamed delay in commencing its planned review of political and Judicial office holders’ remunerations on non-release of funds by the Federal Government.
A statement by the Commission on Monday said; “arrangements to fully commence the review of the Nation’s Revenue Allocation Formula (RAF) has been concluded.”
According to the Commission, the RAF review is currently focused on the vertical formula which has to do with revenue sharing among Federal, State and Local governments to be followed by a horizontal formula that has to do with sharing among states and local governments.
Speaking when members of the National Assembly Service Commission led by Engr. Ahmed Khadi Amshi visited him in Abuja, RMAFC Chairman, Engineer Elias Mbam said; “the review is targeted at equitable distribution of the accrued revenue into the Federation account to the three tiers of government.”
He assured that the Commission is determined to deliver on its mandate as “one of the 14 executive bodies contained in the 1999 constitution as amended and saddled with the statutory function of reviewing from time to time the Revenue Allocation Formula and principles in operation.”
Mbam said the plan is to ensure “conformity with changing realities alongside monitoring appropriate revenue accruals to the Federation account by the revenue generating agencies.”
He also explained that while the review of remuneration for judicial and Executive office holders in the Federation is subjected to further legislation by National or State Assemblies as the case may be for approval but not more than the RMAFC’s recommendations, the Commission’s determination for legislatures at Federal, State and Local government is final
The RMAFC Chairman also said the review of remuneration for political and Judicial office holders is expected to commence immediately funds are released by the government for that purpose.
In his remarks, Engineer Ahmed Amshi lauded the Commission chairman for hosting the team, pledging the collaboration of the National Assembly Commission in the area of manpower development given that both bodies operate the same organizational structure.
Amshi also commended RMAFC for working to deliver on its mandate of boosting the country’s revenue generation as well as equitable distribution of revenue to the three tiers of government.
