KEHINDE AKINTOLA
Nigeria’s House of Representatives has accused management of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) of breaching the provisions of 1999 constitution (as amended) on the five year review of the revenue sharing formulae.
Mark Gbillah, chairman of the Ad-hoc Committee investigating ‘data collection processes, maintenance and usage’, read the Riot Act, at the investigative public hearing held in Abuja.
According to him, the action of the Commission contravenes Section 32(b) of the Third Schedule Part I of the 1999 Constitution, which stipulated the “review from time to time, the revenue allocation formulae and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities.”
Gbillah who frowned at the flagrant disregard for the extant laws,observed that the Commission has the responsibility of collection and maintenance of the integrity of data utilized for the computation of indices for horizontal revenue sharing in the case of Federation Account and both vertical and horizontal revenue sharing in respect of the 13% Derivative Funds.
“RMAFC’s failure to undertake the review of the 2012 horizontal an vertical allocation sharing formulae after over five years of obviously changing realities as statutorily envisaged has stifled equitable revenue allocation that will enhance good governance.
“The impending implementation of a new minimum wage across the country has exacerbated widespread agitation among the 36 states and 774 local government areas of the country for additional revenue and has generated increasing doubt and concern about the efficacy, accuracy and fairness of the current horizontal and vertical revenue allocation to the State and LGAs.”
He further alleged that the Committee in the bid to discharge its constitutional responsibilities in tandem with section 4 of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act has encountered intentional recalcitrance from RMAFC who have delayed the progress of the committee by refusing to honour invitations and requests for information including their condemnable and unlawful official instruction via correspondence to another tier of government not to honour the constitutional requests of a legitimate committee of the National Assembly, in line with the provisions of section 89(1d) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) section 6(1,2,3) and section 11(a,b) of the Legislative Houses (Powers and Privileges) Act, the Rt. Hon. Speaker of the House of Representatives has approved the initiation of statutory sanctions (issuance of an arrest warrant and criminal prosecution) against the acting chairman and management of the RMAFC and will not hesitate to approve same against any party who refuse(s) to honour the constitutional requests of the Committee.
While stressing that the committee has absolutely no vested interests or intentions to vilify or patronize any party, the Benue lawmaker assured all “stakeholders of objectivity and equity in the conclusion of its mandate and in the spirit of reconciliation and camaraderie therefore the committee is willing to prevail upon the Rt. Hon. Speaker to suspend the institution of sanctions against all erring parties if related parties are willing to provide the committee with the statutory enshrined and required cooperation and compliance.”
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