By Chris Ndibe
Participants of Nationwide Sensitisation and Advocacy on Data Gathering and Management, have called for the review of the current vertical revenue sharing formula in the country in the favour of States and Local Government Councils (LGCs).
The programme was organised by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
They made the call in a communique jointly signed Mr Lawal Attihiru, a director in the state Ministry for Local Governments, and RMAFC team leader, Mr Ibrahim Bako, respectively issued at the end of the programme on Wednesday in Katsina.
“That in recognition of the enormous responsibilities of States and Local Government Councils, the current vertical revenue allocation sharing formula should be reviewed in favour of States and LGCs,” the communique said.
They urged the state government to intensify efforts in making policies and strategies that would increase schools enrollment by mainstreaming the ‘Almajirai’ system into the conventional school system.
They said that the state-funded community schools should be considered in the enrolment figure of schools since the state provides schools’ funds through the payment of teachers and intervention in infrastructure.
It said that the state should establish Bureau for Statistics that would be providing credible data base whenever needed.
The participants also called for setting up Joint Revenue Committee for state and LGCs to harmonise strategies for enhanced revenue collections.
They urged the state government to step-up strategies to access Stabilisation Funds for the purpose of ameliorating the impact of insecurity challenge on the socio-economic development of the state.
The communique further said that the state government should demonstrate political will and support to collect taxes from all eligible tax payers irrespective of their status.
