Niger State Governor, Umaru Bago, has appealed to the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to grant the state a 13 per cent derivation allocation, citing its significant contribution to Nigeria’s electricity generation and abundant natural resources.
Governor Bago made the appeal while receiving a delegation from the Commission on a courtesy visit at the Government House in Minna.
He argued that despite supplying about 60 per cent of Nigeria’s electricity through its hydroelectric dams and possessing vast land and mineral resources, Niger has remained undercompensated in the country’s revenue-sharing arrangement.
The governor urged the Commission to take the state’s unique contributions into account during the ongoing review of the revenue allocation formula.
Bago commended the RMAFC for its commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s democracy, describing revenue allocation as a critical instrument for promoting national stability and equitable development.
He assured the Commission of his administration’s continued support in achieving its constitutional mandate.
He also acknowledged the importance of periodic data verification, noting that accurate and up-to-date data are essential for effective revenue allocation and informed fiscal planning.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Federal Commissioner representing the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Henry Awuregu, said the team was in the state as part of the Commission’s nationwide data verification exercise.
He explained that the exercise was aimed at reviewing and updating the data used in the allocation of revenue among states and local government areas, in line with the Commission’s constitutional responsibility to periodically review the revenue allocation formula to reflect prevailing realities.
Awuregu commended the Niger State Government, its ministries, departments and agencies, as well as the 25 local government councils, for their cooperation throughout the exercise, describing their support as instrumental to the success of the assignment.
READ ALSO: Bago Defends Dikko Land Acquisition For Solar Project, Says Development Cannot Be Stopped
He noted that Nigeria’s revenue allocation system is based on principles of fairness, equity and justice, expressing confidence that the outcome of the exercise would have far-reaching benefits for both the federation and Niger State.
The RMAFC federal commissioner also praised Governor Bago’s developmental initiatives, particularly in urban renewal, agricultural transformation and the expansion of road infrastructure across the state’s 25 local government areas, describing the achievements as unprecedented.
