Abuja, July 24, 2023: The Centre for Anti-Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL) has called on President Bola Tinubu to assent to the Bill for an Act to Amend Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission Act, CAP. R7 LFN 2010.
A statement by Mr Debo Adeniran, CACOL Chairman, on Sunday in Abuja, said the bill, which was passed by the 9th Assembly, was awaiting Tinubu’s assent.
He said assent to the bill would give the commission enforcement powers to monitor accruals to and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account.
He further said it would bring the Act into conformity with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as Amended).
“The bill as passed by the National Assembly prescribes that the Commission shall be wholly funded by the three tiers of government being beneficiaries of the Federation Account.
“As one of the 14 executive bodies recognised by the Constitution, RMAFC is one of the most poorly funded agencies.
“It is poorly funded compared to Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), National Population Commission (NPC), National Assembly and others that are heavily funded from the national purse,” he said.
Adeniran said a poorly funded organisation with ill-motivated staff cannot perform maximally.
The chairman said he was optimistic that the bill would remove financial, legal and regulatory obstacles that had made the commission a “toothless bulldog”.
He called on the media to bring their influence to bear on the matter.
RMFAC was established to review revenue allocation formula every five years.
It is also charged with the responsibility of fixing the salaries of political office holders and public officers among others.