RMAFC and Nigeria’s rectitude
From the very beginning of Nigeria`s existence as a country, a central question has been one of equity variously expressed as resource control and resource allocation. What has been of paramount interest to neutrals and stakeholders alike is that every section of Nigeria receives its due while contributing its quota to national development. Since the […]
From the very beginning of Nigeria`s existence as a country, a central question has been one of equity variously expressed as resource control and resource allocation. What has been of paramount interest to neutrals and stakeholders alike is that every section of Nigeria receives its due while contributing its quota to national development.
Since the unfortunate civil war, the country has found division along ethnic lines with sections of the country occasionally nursing grievances about exclusion, real or imagined.
It is not alarmist to say that at the core of the agitations is the question of resource control and allocation. Nigeria used to have viable options until oil was discovered. As the oil flowed out of the Niger Delta region laying waste to the region`s farmlands and water bodies, the groundnut pyramids in northern Nigeria disappeared; the cocoa plantations in the South West became a shadow of themselves and the palm oil plantations in the South East became redundant. The country was too busy counting petro-dollars to notice the frightening developments and foresee the debt the future would come to exact.
It is into this burning cauldron of resource allocation that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act was born by the constitution. It was to address the thorny question of who gets what and in what quota that the Commission was born. It has since experienced mixed fortunes.
The Commission has long been accused of overseeing Nigeria`s severely imbalanced revenue allocation formulae. The Commission has weathered savage accusations of favouring the federal and state governments at the expense of local governments.
Now that the Commission is about to embark on the formulation of a new revenue allocation formula, the country`s changed and changing realities must be given prime consideration. It is a bit incongruous that the revenue allocation formula, which is now about to undergo review has been in place for 28 years.
As the RMAFC embarks on this critical national assignment, there is no doubt that it has the weight of history on its shoulders. It must now do everything to respect the wishes of Nigeria`s present and future generations. It must proceed to act accordingly in discharging its duties.
It is beyond argument that revenue allocation in Nigeria is scandalously lopsided, favouring the federal government at the expense of the state and local governments who are better placed to do more for Nigeria`s poorest people. The inexplicable revenue allocation formula has no doubt contributed to the growing calls for the country to be restructured on a more equitable basis.
The RMAFC must recognise that it owes Nigerians a critical duty to promote the unity of the country by ensuring that resources are more effectively and efficiently distributed so that the polity will be free of rancor and bitterness.
Kene Obiezu lives in Abuja.