By Titus Atondu, Makurdi
Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has called on Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to allocate more funds to states and local governments from the Federation’s Account.
Ortom made the call yesterday at Government House Makurdi when he received the Federal Commissioner, RMAFC representing Benue State, Mr Adaa Maagbe during a sensitisation tour to the State.
The Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, is on a tour to sensitise the nation and receive inputs on appropriate revenue sharing formula for the country.
The Governor suggested that local governments take 23 per cent of the Federal Allocation, states 42 per cent while the Federal Government goes home with 35 percent.
He further explained that states have more responsibilities and should take the lion share of the Federal Allocation, pointing out that the FG can only monitor what happens in the states after releasing such funds to them.
He stated that in view of the security challenges facing the states, Governors believe in having State Police which implies that more resources are needed to salvage such situations.
The Governor noted that the FG has clearly demonstrated that it is overwhelmed by the security challenges and so it should push the responsibilities to States and back it up with more resources.
Earlier in a remark, Mr Adaa Maagbe, disclosed that the visit was a sensitisation exercise to review the vertical revenue allocation formulae that had been in existence for long.
He, explained that the law provides for a review of the formulae and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities through an Act of the National Assembly after a period of five years.
Tor Kwande, Chief Ambrose Iortyer urged FG to reduce the number of parasiticals under it and devolve some to states and local governments to reduce its spending while Tor Lobi, Chief Moses Anagende said the agitations for restructuring means more resources be given to states.