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The Promise of a New Revenue Formula

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By Salisu Na’inna Dambatta

It is interesting that a new Revenue Sharing Formula by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) will be worked out soon to replace the 20-year old existing version.

The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Mr.

Elias Mbam said that in addition to a new sharing formula, the Commission will “expand the sources of revenue for the Federation.

“I intend to do this through diversification in areas outside Oil and Gas, and that includes solid minerals, agriculture and manufacturing.

There is no doubt that the existing renenue allocation formula has been subjected to criticisms by politicians and development experts who believe that the 52.

68 per cent allocated to the Federal Government; the 26.72 per cent to the States and 20.60 per cent for  the 744 Local Government Areas in the country is due for retouching.

However, it is important to note that in the Nigerian peculiar way of doing things, every Revenue Allocation formula, from the first one introduced in 1948 (on the recommendation of Hicks Philipson Commission of 1946) as part of the Richardson Constitution for the three regions of Nigeria to the extant version, has always been criticised or opposed by people who expressed their various perspectives on how the formulae should have been formulated.

It is to tamper those varied perspectives with reasoning that a framework, based on over a dozen of factors or indices, was developed to accommodate various interests and address divergent concerns and foster national acceptance for it.

The indices in the framework listed by  Victor I. Lukpata, Ph.D of the Department of History and Diplomatic Studies, Federal University Wukari, Taraba State, are: Basic needs; Minimum Material Standards; Balanced Development; Derivation;Equality of Access to Development Opportunities;Independent Revenue/Tax effort;Absorptive Capacity and Fiscal Efficiency. Others are Minimum responsibility of Government; Population; Social Development Factor; Equality of States; Landmass and Terrain and finally, Internal Revenue Generation Effort.

The above principles have continued to serve as the yardstick for revenue allocation up to this day.

Each state of the Federation,  the 744 Local Government Areas and the Federal Government get a portion from the Federation Account based on these indices. On its part, the Federal Government gets the portion assigned to it because of the huge responsibilies it bears: ensuring national security, caring for the Armed Forces, the Police Force, Foreign Relations, building and maintenance of the most critical roadways, the railways, internal and international maritime services, Customs, Education, Health, Agriculture and National Food Security and the provision of many more money-guzzling public goods nationwide.

In the process of sharing the revenue, the Federal Ministry of Finance chairs the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) every month. The Secretariat of FAAC is at that Ministry, but the Department of FAAC is domiciled in the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (OAGF).

The Commissioners for Finance of the 36 states, a representative of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are members of FAAC, as are revenue-related entities including the RMAFC, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

Much is at stake when it comes to revenue sharing. The quantam of money involved makes it so as the following facts reflect. The sum of N8 trillion was shared in 2018 in spite of the shut-ins in several oil installations. The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursed a total sum of N6.418 trillion in 2017. It was N5. 1 trillion in 2016 and N6. 011 in 2015 respectly.

Every state in the country, except two, get most of the cash they use in paying  for the services and development projects they deliver to the public from FAAC disbursements. Their internal revenue generation ability is limited by many factors, including lack of seriousness.

That lack of seriousness led to paucity of funds in the states to the extent that workers could not be paid their monthly entitlements. The federal government lent the states just over N2 trillion, beside paying them billions of Naira in refund regarding Paris Club debt write-off in favour of Nigeria.

Given the life-line status of shared revenues for the three tiers of Government in the country, a promise to craft a new Revenue Sharing Formula for the country by the RMAFC is an exciting matter. So, the nation is eagerly awaiting  the new formula, which will ensure that the Federal

Government gets enough resources to provide the kind of services expected from the Centre.

 However, it is possible to expand and further diversify the revenue base. The Federal Inland Revenue Service has demonstrated that by bringing more taxables to the tax net. 

Indeed, the FIRS has announced that it is now targeting a tax base of 45 million taxables, according to the Executive Secretary, Joint Tax Board (JTB), Mr Oseni Elamah.

Elama said that as at December, 2018, Nigeria’s tax payers data base expanded from 20 million (in 2015) to 35 million. This is a huge increase by any measure.

The taxpayers base can actually surpass the 45 million target if the over 1,000 uncaptured sources of tax identified by researchers commissioned by the Federal Ministry of Finance are brought into the tax net. This was disclosed by former Minister for Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun in a speech in Kano on July 14, 2016 at a Conference on Taxation and Revenue generation.

“Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun in Kano said the Federal Government had identified more than 1,000 dormant revenue lines, assuring, however, that such huge dormant revenue opportunities will be maximised,” a medium reported.

The RMAFC should in collaboration with other relevant sister agencies take advantage of the work done earlier in its Chairman’s drive to expand the revenue base for the three tiers of Government. It is a desirable and doable task.

The Muhammadu Buhari-led administration will simply add another important achievement in the huge legacy it will leave behind for the benefit of future generations of Nigeria if the revenue sharing or allocation formula is redesigned and dormant revenue-yielding lines are activated.

Economy

Value Addition is new Standard in Mining Operations – Alake

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has declared value addition as the new indispensable standard for mining operations in the country.

Alake made the declaration in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Segun Tomori, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The minister had earlier said that the federal government had resolved to ensure compliance to value addition before permitting investors to operate.

He said that his seven-point agenda for the ministry had placed the mining sector on the global front burner since assuming office, which had generated renewed interest from the international community in Nigeria`s mineral resources.

According to the statement, the minister lauded a mining company, African Natural Resources and Mines Ltd.

(ANRML), during an inspection tour in Kaduna State, for its 600 million dollar facility dedicated to the mining and processing of magnetite iron-ore.

He described the move as in line with the government`s resolve for value addition, which is especially apt given President Bola Tinubu`s quest to develop the solid minerals, to boost Nigeria`s economic profile and to meet the global upsurge in energy transition.

“The company aligns with our vision of value addition and beneficiation through its processing of iron-ore, and I urge other mining companies to take a cue from them, “ he said.

He reiterated the government`s commitment to abstain from granting mining licenses to companies that lack the necessary plans for value addition.

The minister acknowledged that resilience, courage and laying a solid foundation were critical in contributing to the company success.

He added that such factors also serve as guidelines for President Tinubu`s administration in its efforts for economic transformation.

“ We have set our minds in this administration and invariably in Nigeria to achieve success, that is why Mr President is restructuring the economy.

“When this company (ANRML) started seven years ago, we saw one of the foundations through the video documentary, the amount of concrete that went in to erect a foundation, just to carry a giant edifice.

“That is what we are going through. When we get through the gestation period, the results will manifest, and it will herald prosperity, “he said.

The minister had stated that no license would be granted to companies wishing to enter the mineral sector without presenting a plan for value addition, such as processing and refining which has multiplier effect on the economy. (NAN)

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Economy

Life Insurance Records 95% Net Claims in Q4 2023-NAICOM

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The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) says Life insurance business recorded about 95 per cent net claims of the total claims in the fourth quarter of 2023.

A report by NAICOM in Abuja on Tuesday hinted that the record was due to the direct reflection of the ongoing regulatory measures by the Commission regarding claims settlements.

NAICOM said the insurance market average stood at about 71.

4 per cent of the N536.
5 billion gross claims reported at the close of the fourth quarter.

The Commission said the market also recorded retention of about 87.7 per cent for the life business, 54 per cent for non-life while the aggregate market average retention stood at 66.

7 per cent for the period.

It showed that the insurance industry sustained its progressive trend of positive market performance at the close of 2023 fourth quarter.

According to NAICOM, the insurance market recorded a milestone growth to close at N1.003 trillion, representing about 27 per cent growth compared to the N790 billion recorded in 2022.

”Major growth drivers in the non-life segment of the market were oil and gas and fire Insurances contributing 27.3 per cent and 24.1 per cent respectively.

”In a direct reflection to the “no-premium no-cover” policy of the Commission, the outstanding premium continues to decline.

”The premium posted 1.6 per cent as outstanding of all the premiums generated in the market during the period.

”Statistics also shows that the market recorded total assets of about N2.67trillion and capitalisation of N851billion in 2023,” NAICOM said. (NAN)

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Economy

No Mining License without Mineral Value Addition Plans-Alake Warns

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The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Dele Alake has warned that no mining license would be issued to prospective investors without requisite plans for value addition on minerals.

Alake gave the warning in a statement  by his Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori on Tuesday.

He said the Federal Government had resolved to ensure compliance before permitting investors to operate.

He said that his Seven -Point Agenda for the ministry had placed the mining sector on global front burner since assuming office, which had generated renewed interest from the international community in Nigeria’s mineral resources.

He said the support of the executive and the legislature had enabled the ministry to showcase the solid minerals sector globally, resulting in his election as the Chairman of the Africa Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG) at the Future Minerals Forum in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to him, with the pact that led to the formation of the AMSG, there is now unity of purpose on the African continent regarding the issue of local value addition.

“We are no longer going to allow anybody or license any company that wants to go into the mineral sector without giving us a plan for local value addition,  like processing, refining and this has a multiplier effect on the economy.

“It instantly generates employment rather than a few people carting away lithium, gold, and the likes to other countries to sell.

“These minerals must now be processed in Nigeria, creating more value and beneficiation for local communities where they are sourced, ” he said.

Reports says that the minister had earlier received members of the House Committee on Solid Minerals who were on oversight visit to his office.

The minister commended the lawmakers for their support in repositioning the mining sector, stressing that boosting the economic profile of Nigeria required joint task by both the executive and legislature.

He acknowledged the significant contribution of sub-nationals to mining development, emphasising that state chairmen of  Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) and five committee members were nominated by state governments. (NAN)

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