RMAFC For S’East: Uzodimma Makes Case For Additional States

By Sampson Uhuegbu, Owerri

Imo Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, has called on the Federal Government and the National Assembly to reconsider creation of additional states for the South East Zone for justice and equity especially in terms of revenue allocation and fiscal commission.

He made the request while speaking at the South East Zonal Public Hearing on the Review of the Vertical Revenue Allocation Formula organized by the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) held in Owerri on Wednesday, requested that the demand be quickly considered by the authorities concerned to douse tension of sheer marginalization of the South East Region.

Uzodimma had also urged the federal government to reconsider paying royalties to Imo State for its 42 oil blocks being tapped by Rivers State so that the revenue allocation formula of the state would improve in order to meet infrastructure, welfare and security needs of Imo citizens, calling on all agencies that generate revenue for the government to ensure that they quickly remit generated revenue to the coffers of government just as they pay salaries to their workers.

Earlier in his speech, Chairman of Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Engr. Elias N. Mbam, stated that the commission has started the process of reviewing the existing vertical revenue allocation formula, noting “it is on record that there have been several socio- economic and political changes since the last review of the revenue allocation formula in 1992. These changes among other considerations, informed the commission to commence the review of the formula to reflect these changing realities”.

To ensure wide coverage of participants of Nigerians in the review process, Mbam hinted that the “commission invited memoranda from stakeholders in both the print and electronic media on the review of the revenue allocation formula. These included organized labour, civil society organizations, the academia and the general public”.

Also, the Commissioner maintained that the commission undertook sensitization tour to all the states of the country, hinting that studies on fiscal matters relating to revenue allocation and collection of data from relevant government agencies had been carried out.

Mbam while thanking participants for participating and contributing effectively towards revenue generation and remittance, assured them that their request for improvement and increment of allocation by the federal government would be considered by appropriate authority in order to meet infrastructure and welfare of the people to reduce insecurity, unrest, poverty, hunger and vulnerability.

However, the Imo State Finance Commissioner, Anita Doris Uzoka, has disclosed that the state government is working to improve infrastructure such as hospital, road, power, water including commerce and industry, saying employment and insecurity issues are also being addressed.

All the five states of the South East attended the meeting by proxy except the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodimma who was present.

Traditional rulers, the media, academia, civil society organizations and the public fully participated in the South East Zonal meeting.