North East govs advocate least revenue share for FG in formula review

The six North East states of the federation have called for the eradication of horizontal sharing and distribution of revenue allocation formula.

In his keynote address at the two-day North East zonal public hearing on review of Revenue Allocation Formula by Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), in Gombe State, yesterday, Governor Muhammad Yahaya argued that the Federal Government ought to take the least of the share, “since it is at the centre and barely feels the pains of the citizenry, especially at the grassroots.”

According to the insecurity-hit zone, the horizontal formula merely gives the Federal Government undue financial advantage at the expense of the states that bear the heaviest burden.

Governor Yahaya, on behalf of the zone, proposed 40 per cent for the federal, 35 per cent for the states and 25 per cent for the local councils, against the current horizontal formula that stands at 52.68 per cent (federal), 26.72 per cent (states) and 20.60 per cent (councils).

Also, Yobe State urged the abrogation of the 13 per cent derivation for oil-producing states, if same treatment would not be accorded state with offshore resources.