RMFAC: Abiodun Canvasses 45% Increment in States’ Allocation

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has canvassed an upward review of States revenue allocation sharing formula from 26.7 per cent to 45 per cent in order to allow more developments in the states.

Governor Abiodun, who was represented by his Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, canvassed the position in Lagos while speaking at the South West Zonal Public Hearing on Review of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission.

Abiodun also noted that there should be a downward review of the allocation the federal government to 30 per cent.

Making the proposal, the governor said the formula should be reworked to stand as 30 per cent to Federal; 45 per cent to states; and 25 per cent to Local governments, as against the current stand of 52.68, 26.72, and 20.60 percent respectively.

Noting that the current formula is no longer in tune with economic realities, the governor said the allocation was forestalling the development of states and local governments.

Abidoun also wants the Excusive List amended to allow each tier of government concentrate on areas that will better touch the lives of the people.

Governor Abiodun, who attributed the current imbalance in the revenue sharing formula to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution, particularly the Exclusive Legislative List, maintained that States have increasingly borne significant additional increase in managing issues relating to maintenance peace, security, education, infrastructural development, and social welfare programmes, among others.

“Given that the state and local governs are closer to the citizenry and can meet their needs more accurately, it is imperative to consider an increase in the allocation to the States and Local governments.

“In addition to the above, revenue allocation should be reviewed and each tier of government should be funded according to the functions they perform.”

This is to enable that States can carry out expenditure functions within their scope and jurisdiction thus improve the economic growth of the States and nation in general,”, Abiodun said.

“The world is changing, but unfortunately sexual assault has continued to happen every day.

“Victims of rape, sexual assault and other related offences are left to wonder why their worth and privacy will be violated and taken away.

“The past is written on the body of the rape victims; they carry it every single day.
The past sometimes feels like it might kill them, but indeed, it is a burden that is very heavy,” he said.

Justice Halilu, therefore, sentenced the convict to 12 years imprisonment without an option of fine.

He further called for a review of the Social Development Factor of the allocation formula in line1 with modern day realities areas of education, health and population, saying, “population density should replace population and land mass as independent factor in revenue allocation”
He therefore, sought the cooperation of the National Assembly to ensure passage of the bill on new Revenue Allocation Formula whenever it gets to them.