Governor Okezie Ikpeazu says the clarion call for states to make contributions to the ongoing review of the revenue sharing formula by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) is a welcome development.
Governor Ikpeazu recommended for true fiscal federalism where States will have autonomy to manage resources in their domains and in the case of natural resources, pay royalties to the federal government.
Governor Ikpeazu’s call was made when he received a delegation of the Federal Commissioner, representing Abia State at the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Chris Akomas at Government Lodge, Aba.
According to him, the Eastern Region of Nigeria used to be the fastest growing economy in the world during the times of Dr. Michael Okpara; when there was true federalism with different regions controlling their resources.
Gov Ikpeazu
The Governor maintained that everyone and every region is not equally endowed by nature and such regions must be powered to enjoy the benefits of those endowments since they also live with the disadvantages of such endowments, especially environmental degradation.
He announced the setting up of a Committee to that effect which would be headed by the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Aham Uko and thanked Dr. Chris Akomas for the good job he is doing at RMAFC said the State is proud of him and described Dr. Akomas as one of the brightest and most intelligent public officers Abia State has produced.
In his speech earlier, Dr. Chris Akomas who is the Chairman of the Committee on Disbursement of the Commission said the team was in the State to sensitize the State Government on the ongoing process of the review of the revenue sharing formula of the Federal Government.
Dr Chris Akomas
He added that the process of reviewing the revenue sharing formula is the constitutional responsibility of the Commission and said that response to the review is urgent while the next stage would be the Zonal Public Hearings where States would make their positions known
Dr. Akomas, a former Deputy Governor in the State appreciated Governor Ikpeazu and his brother Governors in the South East for their efforts in handling security challenges in the region and thanked him also for all his efforts towards achieving good governance in Abia State.
Participants
The Federal Commissioner was accompanied on the visit by the Federal Commissioner representing Rivers State in the Commission, Mr Temple Wener Osondi and some Senior Directors in the Commssion while some members of the State Executive Council including the Commissioners for Finance, Dr Aham Ukoh, that of Health, Dr Joe Osuji and Works, Barrister Bob Chiedozie Ogu as well as the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Sir Don Ubani witnessed the event which held at the Governor’s Lodge Aba.
Dr Aham Uko
