….Charges RMAFC board, others to strengthen non-oil revenue drive
The Federal Government on Thursday, charged the newly inaugurated Chairmen and members of boards of its agencies, including the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to strengthen revenue drive from the non-oil sector.
Government gave the directives following dwindling income from crude oil sales as a result of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
President Muhammadu Buhari had Thursday inaugurated the boards of Federal Character Commission (FCC), Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) and the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) with the mandate to amongst others, drive revenue from the non-oil sector to strengthen government revenue
In May, the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, had indicated that Nigeria’s oil revenue target fell by N125.52 billion in the first quarter (Q1, 2020) to N940.91 billion.
She had attributed the shortfall, to the COVID-19 pandemic and the slump in oil price due to a sharp drop in demand and price war between two powerful producers, Russia and Saudi Arabia,
The fall represented a 31 per cent of the prorated oil revenue target.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) also show inflation hitting a two-year high at 12.34 per cent.
The World Bank had also in May projected that based on its assessment of Nigeria’s economy, the country would plunge into a recession.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, speaking after the boards were inaugurated, said the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), has “a very critical role to play, particularly now that we have very serious shortfall in our earnings”
“The essence of the revenue mobilization is to look at the non-oil sector particularly in terms of mobilizing revenue for the country. I believe that now that they have full compliment of their membership, they should be able to give it the necessary drive.
On the Federal Character Commission (FCC), Mustapha said the institution has the responsibility of looking at the federal civil service in terms of employment, promotion, capacity, adding that ” we need a new civil service to take us to the next level
“The Federal Character Commission particularly has the responsibilities in the constitution which is very fundamental to ensuring equitable distribution of not only offices but even amenities and benefits and welfare to the people of the country.
He said the ” organizations have many things to do in terms of reenergizing the system”
“Basically, they have some constitutional responsibilities because all these commissions are mentioned in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and so that presupposes that already the constitution has provided for them a mandate. More especially as we are notching towards the end of the President’s tenure.
“We have just spent a year and we have three years to go but there are so many things that we want them to begin to do in terms of reenergizing the system.
“The Federal Character Commission particularly has the responsibilities in the constitution which is very fundamental to ensure equitable distribution of not only offices but even of amenities and benefits and welfare to the people of the country.
“The Revenue Mobilization, Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), is very critical, particularly now that we have very serious shortfall in our earnings. The essence of the revenue mobilization is to look at the non-oil sector particularly in terms of mobilizing revenue for the country. I believe that now that they have full compliment of their membership, they should be able to give it the necessary drive.
“The Federal Character Commission (FCC), is an institution that has the responsibility of looking at the federal civil service in terms of employment, promotion, capacity and we need a new civil service to take us to the next level.
The federal commissioner, Ginika Tor representing Enugu, assured that she will ensure what is due those she represents gets to them.
Abiodun Akinlade representing Ogun State, on his part said he will ensure that what is due the people he represents are equitably distributed in accordance with the mandate of the commission as enshrined in the constitution.
Members of RMAFC sworn-in are, Ahmed Yusuf from Taraba; Bello Wamakko from Sokoto; Oladele Gboyega from Osun; Adamu Dibai from Borno; Alfred Egba from Bayelsa and Hajiya Salamatu Bala from Adamawa.
The President swore-in Muheeda Dankaka as the Chairperson of the FCC and 36 other members of the board.
The 36 members of the FCC included Henry Ogbulogo (Abia), Salihu Bello (Adamawa), Dorah Daniel (Akwa-Ibom), Ibeabuchi Uche, (Anambra), Mohammed Tijjani, (Bauchi), Tonye Okio (Bayelsa) and Silas Macikpah (Benue).
Others were Abba Ali Monguno (Borno), Nsor Atamgba (Cross River), Alims Agoda (Delta), Tobias Chukuemeka (Ebonyi), Imuetinyan Festus (Edo), Sesan Fatoba (Ekiti), Ginika Tor (Enugu). Hamza Mohammed (Gombe), Diogu Uche, (Imo) and Lawan Ya’u Roni (Jigawa).
Also sworn-in were Hadiza Muazu (Kaduna), Mohammed Na’iya (Kano), Lawal Garba (Katsina), Abubakar Atiku Bunu (Kebbi), Idris Bello (Kogi), Are Bolaji (Lagos), Nasir Isa Kwarra (Nasarawa), and Suleiman Barau (Niger).
Others sworn in were Abiodun Akinlade (Ogun), Olufemi Omosanya (Ondo), Adeoye Olalekan (Osun) Adeniyi Olowofela (Oyo), Stephen Jings (Plateau), Wokocha Augustine (Rivers), Abdullahi Tafida (Sokoto), Alhaji Armaya’u Abubakar (Taraba), Jibril Maigari (Yobe), Sani Garba (Zamfara) and Adamu Sidi-Ali (Federal Capital Territory)
For the Federal Civil Service Commission, two members were sworn-in. They include, Jonah Madugu from Plateau State, (Representing Plateau, Benue and Nasarawa States) and Fredrick Ekwem from Imo State, (Representing Imo and Abia States.
