By Faith Anisiobi, The Sight News
The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has completed a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s Revenue Allocation Formula and concluded work on the review of remuneration for political, public and judicial office holders.
Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, disclosed this on Friday during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos.
Shehu said both reviews had reached advanced stages of consideration by the appropriate authorities, describing them as major components of the Commission’s fiscal reform efforts since 2023.
According to him, the review of the Revenue Allocation Formula was conducted through extensive consultations with the three tiers of government, technical stakeholders and other participants across the country.
He said the exercise involved an assessment of fiscal responsibilities, revenue trends and comparative federal systems, culminating in a harmonized report and legislative proposals ready for transmission to the relevant authorities.
The RMAFC chairman explained that the proposed framework was designed to promote a more equitable and sustainable distribution of national revenue in line with Nigeria’s current economic and governance realities.
On remuneration, Shehu said the Commission had completed the review of salaries and allowances for judicial office holders, which resulted in the enactment of the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 2025.
He added that the review of remuneration for executive and legislative office holders was also at an advanced stage, with an executive bill on the Political and Public Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 2026 expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly.
He, however, stressed that improved remuneration must be accompanied by accountability and performance, noting that higher pay should translate into improved public service delivery.
Shehu also highlighted the Commission’s efforts to strengthen revenue monitoring, particularly in the oil and gas sector, to ensure accurate application of the 13 per cent derivation principle.
He said verification exercises, geospatial mapping and collaboration with relevant agencies had helped resolve longstanding oil well attribution disputes, including the reallocation of 17 oil wells from Imo State to Rivers State in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment.
He said similar interventions had been carried out in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Anambra states, while improved gas production reporting had enabled Enugu and Kogi states to benefit from derivation revenues.
The chairman listed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), National Boundary Commission and Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation among institutions with which RMAFC had strengthened collaboration to improve revenue monitoring and compliance.
He further disclosed that the Commission was engaging the Ministry of Defence on crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and production losses, which he described as major threats to national revenue.
Beyond the petroleum sector, Shehu said RMAFC was exploring additional revenue opportunities through partnerships with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), including the deployment of satellite and geospatial technologies to identify new revenue sources.
The chairman also disclosed improvements in the Commission’s infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of critical facilities, enhanced security systems and ongoing renovation of its headquarters.
He said staff welfare had equally received attention through improved healthcare services, training and capacity development programmes aimed at strengthening technical expertise.
Shehu said the engagement with the Nigerian Guild of Editors was part of efforts to promote transparency and improve public understanding of RMAFC’s constitutional mandate.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to proactive communication, data-driven reforms and stronger collaboration with the media to advance accountability in public finance.
In his vote of thanks, Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communication Committee (PACC) and Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State, Hon. Ismail Muhammed Agaka, commended the media for its role in strengthening democratic accountability.
He reaffirmed RMAFC’s commitment to sustained engagement with stakeholders in advancing the Commission’s mandate.
Other PACC members present included Hon. Peter Opara, Federal Commissioner representing Imo State; Hon. Ekene Enefe, Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State; Hon. Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, Federal Commissioner representing Borno State; Hon. Ahmed Waziri Hassan, Federal Commissioner representing Adamawa State; Hon. Bob-Helen Inafa, Federal Commissioner representing Bayelsa State; Hon. Oti Nkechi Linda, Federal Commissioner representing Abia State; Professor Olusegun Adekunle Wright, Federal Commissioner representing Lagos State; and Hon. Victor Eboigbe, Federal Commissioner representing Edo State.
