- As Commission assures on remuneration review for public office holders
BY EDMOND ODOK – Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) has blamed poor funding for delayed mandate delivery by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
According to Governor Tambuwal, it is unfortunate that the RMAFC ranks among the underfunded constitutional bodies in the country, thereby hampering its operations over the years.
The NGF Chairman, who made the assertion when the RMAFC Chairman visited him in Abuja recently, said such funding handicap has been quite challenging and made it difficult for the Commission to effectively monitor all the revenue accruing into the Federation account as well as its monthly distribution.
He therefore proposed a first line charge funding for the RMAFC, saying such an arrangement would obviously assist the Commission go digital in the monitoring and tracking of all revenue accruals into the Federation account, thereby increasing funds mesnt for distribution among the three tiers of government.
Also using the occasion to congratulate Bello on his new appointment as RMAFC Chairman, the Sokoto Governor encouraged the Commission’s management to stay focused and ensure it delivers on the promise of commencing and successfully concluding in record time the remuneration review exercise.
He also expressed regrets that the salaries of serving Judges in the country is particularly regrettable being one of the least in the nation’s public service.
Earlier in his speech, the RMAFC Chairman, Mohammed Bello Shehu disclosed that plans to review the remuneration for Political, Public and Judicial office holders in the country have been concluded.
He said pursuant to the functions of RMAFC in paragraph 32(D) of part 1 to the third schedule of 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, the Commission is empowered to determine the remuneration appropriate to political, Public and Judicial office holders in the country.
Speaking against the backdrop of criticisms over its alleged lack of push, the RMAFC boss said given that the last review was undertaken in 2008, it has become imperative to deliver a new document in line with the current economic realities in the country and the world at large.
Bello assured the NGF Chairman that the Commission would not shy away from delivering on its constitutional responsibilities.
He also promised to produce fair and credible remunerations for the affected officers before the May 29, 2023 termination date of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
