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The Gombe Network of Civil Society (GONET) has sought the accelerated passage of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) Amendment Bill which is awaiting passage by the National Assembly having gone through second reading.
GONET, in a communique issued at the end of a one-day dialogue session with the theme, “Towards Nigeria’s Effective Fiscal Management: Issues, Prospects and Constraints” held in Gombe, observed that RMAFC is a critical body in Nigeria’s governance structure, responsible for monitoring revenue accruals, revenue allocation to the three tiers of government, and fixing remuneration for public office holders.
It noted, however, that the Commission has been hampered by financial constraints, outdated legal frameworks, and insufficient regulatory powers, significantly reducing its effectiveness.
According to the communique, one of the major challenges faced by the Commission is the absence of financial autonomy and weak regulatory framework which directly hinders the effective and efficient performance of its operations with annual budgetary allocations for the financing of its activities over the years being grossly inadequate as to protect its independence and cater for its nationwide field operations.
The sensitive nature of the Commission’s role in Nigeria’s Fiscal management requires a large measure of independence including financial autonomy.
The Communique jointly signed by GONET’s Chairman, Ambassador Ibrahim Yusuf and Secretary, Dr. Benjamin Maina stressed that the aim of the Bill was to strengthen the Commission by granting it financial autonomy and modernizing its operational frameworks given that the existing RMAFC Act, CAP R7 LFN 2004 has become obsolete and no longer in consonance with the economic and fiscal realities.
The proposed Bill seeks to amend the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act, CAP. R7 LFN 2010 to grant the commission enforcement powers in the monitoring of accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account and bring the Act in conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended); and for other matters related therewith.
To this end, the communique which was distributed to policymakers, stakeholders, and the media urged the National Assembly and the Presidency to prioritize the passage of the RMAFC Amendment Bill highlighting its importance and potential to reform Nigeria’s fiscal management system towards positively impacting the country’s governance and fiscal oversight.
The network also urged Governors as critical stakeholders in the governance space to use their good offices by bringing their influence to bear on federal legislators from their States towards supporting the quick passage of the bill.
The communique contained that, “It is the expectation of all and sundry that the bill when eventually passed into law by NASS and signed by Mr. President will reposition the Commission by giving it the needed impetus to perform optimally with the removal of financial, legal and regulatory encumbrances that hitherto made it a toothless bulldog that can only bark but not bite.”
” It is strongly believed by concerned stakeholders that the signing of the bill into law by Mr. President will translate to stoppage of leakages in revenue generation, increase more revenues into the Federation Account and generally promote transparency and accountability in the management of Nigeria’s Commonwealth in consonance with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope mantra,” It further contained.
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