Bayelsa advocates upward review of revenue to states, devolution of powers

Bayelsa government has advocated the need for the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), to allocate more revenues to states.

The government justified its position that states required more funds more than the Federal Government to enable them tackle development challenges.

The state Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (Rtd) stated this when members of the Commission led by Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed Sokoto paid him a courtesy visit in Government  House, Yenagoa.

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A statement signed by Special Adviser to Bayelsa Governor on Media Relations Mr Fidelis Soriwei quoted Jonah as making the position of the government during the visit.

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He also stressed the need for devolution  of some responsibilities from the Federal  Government  to  states to reflect the practice of true federalism.

Jonah also acknowledged that such issues are constitutional and hoped  that hey would be achieved in the near future.

On the use of land mass as major parameters for revenue sharing, Jonah, urged the Commission to accord special consideration to Bayelsa state, which he said, was grappling with development challenges in view of its difficult terrain.

:" When you talk about land mass as a criteria for revenue sharing, we get disadvantaged to some point because Bayelsa is predominately a riverine state.

“Development in this area is challenging because of  the difficult  terrain. That is  why we are clamouring for more revenue allocation to tackle development efforts. 

"The airport we have just finished constructing and waiting for commissioning, the state government pumped a huge amount of amount of sand into that area before we could create land for its construction.

"So whatever  thing that can be done to lighten the burden on us arising  out of our natural location will be welcome,” Jonah said

He also called for fairness, justice and equity among all Nigerians, lamented that Bayelsa is yet to receive any support from the National Emergency Management Agency in spite of the fact that it was declared a disaster area during the recent flooding.

"On the 4.18% revenue, which the Federal  Government  holds in trust, it is believed  that all of us have equal access to that fund.

“I want to put on record that the devastating  flood that necessitated the evacuation of many communities in the state, we were also declared a disaster zone.

"We were expecting  that NEMA would draw from this 4.18%. Apart from some donor agencies and efforts  from the state government,  we didn't  get  anything up till today.

“ And these are the things that make people to start feeling cheated. It's a national team and every person should be treated fairly and once justice is done, the sky is the limit for this country." Jonah said.

  

Earlier in his remarks,  leader of the delegation, Alhaji  Aliyu Mohammed said members of the Commission were visiting states, the FCT and local governments to verify data provided by them.

The authenticated ataa would be used to fashion out a new revenue allocation sharing  formula.

Mohammed noted that the Commission would come up with a new revenue  sharing  formula early next year.

According to him, the 1999 constitution as amended empowers the Commission to  undertake a periodic review of the sharing formula, which he noted was long overdue.

He explained that the current revenue sharing formula stands at 48.5% for Federal  Government, 26.7% for states, local governments, 20.6% while 4.18% of the total amount is set aside to address emergency situations by the Federal Government.