Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku has called on Nigeria’s Federal Government to remove states’ natural resources from the Exclusive to the Concurrent lists, as it flags off workshops to review revenue allocation formula across the country.
He also commended the steps by the Nigeria’s Federal Government to review revenue allocation in the country, which is spearheaded by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission, across the states in the country.
At the workshop in Taraba State, participants were drawn from the Legislature, Judiciary, State, and Local Government tiers.
They are expected to make input on what the Federal Government’s new revenue allocation formula should be.
They are advocating for the larger chunk of, at least 60% of Nigeria’s revenue to be allocated to the States, and Local Government tiers, since they carry the bulk of the country’s population.
Also Read: Taraba State, World Bank partner to reduce number of out of school children
Taraba State Governor Darius Ishaku represented by his Deputy, Haruna Manu, called for the removal of natural resources in the states from the exclusive to the concurrent list, to allow the states to have direct revenue benefits from such resources.
He also commends Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, for initiating a review of the revenue sharing formula, after many years of stagnation.
The exercise is at the instance of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission, with a delegation led by Ahmed Yusuf, a Federal Commissioner, representing Taraba State in the Commission.
Nigeria’s Revenue Allocation formula was last reviewed in 1992, against the provision for review after every five years.
Stakeholders in Taraba State are hopeful that the new revenue allocation formula, expected to be ready at the end of this year, will empower the workforce in the state and local government tiers of government.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
