The Senate of Federal Republic of Nigeria has screened and confirmed the nomination of Engr. Elias Mbam as the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, and 20 other federal commissioners for the organization with two other nominees from Abia and Enugu States still pending.
The Economic Confidential recently disclosed that some of the nominees are for fresh appointments of 5 years in the first instance while others have their appointments renewed for the second tenure after spending the first five-year.
The confirmation followed the adoption of the report of its Committee on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty Alleviation submitted by its chairman, Senator Zaynab Kure.
In the findings of the Economic Confidential most of the commissioners are retired top functionaries in the public and private sectors including former deputy governors, ministers, legislators and chief executive officers of corporate organizations.
The old-age of most of the new members made the Senate to express some reservations. Senator Ahmed Lawan observed that even though he is confident about the ability of the new members, he stressed that future appointments should be done to accommodate younger generations. He said: “We need to inject in the future new blood. Most of the people either graduated in 1972 or 1979. I believe that we will have better commission when we have younger elements and I know they may say they have experience, but today’s financial sector requires fresh brain.”
Abubakar Gada (PDP Sokoto state) added that it is the politicization such appointments at state level that produce old men, all the time. He called for the review of nominee’s appointment methods “other than that, we will continue to recycle old people who will see their nomination as a source livelihood.”
The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and other enabling laws empower the Commission to: monitor the accruals into and disbursement of revenue from the Federation Account; review, from time to time, the revenue allocation formula and principles in operation to ensure conformity with changing realities; advise the Federal, State and Local Governments on fiscal efficiency and methods by which their revenue is to be increased; determine the remuneration appropriate to political office holders and discharge such other functions as may by conferred on the Commission by the constitution or any Act of the National Assembly.
By statutory provisions the Commission is a member of the Federation Account Allocation Committee, Local Government Joint Accounts Allocation Committee, Joint Tax Board, Commission on Ecological Fund, and National Council on Statistics.
The enabling laws also empowered the Commission to demand and obtain regular and relevant information, data or returns from any Government Agency including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation; Nigerian Customs Service, Federal Board of Inland Revenue, Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
RMAFC Federal Commissioners from Each State
Name State Status
Engr. Elias Mbam Chairman New
Senator Chris Adeghije Abia Awaiting Confirmation
Senator Emmanuel Essien A/Ibom New
Ekweogwu Osita Anambra New
Hon. Aondona Sengev Benue New
Okeagu Ogada bonyi New
Pius Akpabior Edo New
Popoola Afolabi Ekiti New
Christopher Odika Enugu “
Amb. Sa’idu Mohammed Gombe Returned for 2nd Tenure
Adamu Mohammed Jigawa New
Bulus James Kadauna New
Bala Borodo Kano New
Tukur Jikamshi Katsina “
Mr. Ignatius Amodu Kogi &nb
sp; Returned for 2nd Tenure
Salamotu Gobir Kwara New
Olufunmilola Otegbola Ogun New
Otumba Oladeji Ariyibi Osun Returned for 2nd Tenure
Ademola Adedeji Sina Oyo New
Yusuf Pam Plateau New
Alh. Mohammed E. Enagi Niger “
Major. Gen. Orho Esio Obada Delta “
Engr. Isa Gaidam Yobe Returned for 2nd Tenure
Amb. Mohammad Jabbi Maradun Zamfara Returned for 2nd Tenure
Perez Bussa FCT New
Alh. Ahmed Iliyasu Bauchi A year to finish 2nd Tenure
Alh. Salihu Jega Kebbi A year to finish 2nd Tenure
Alh. Omokayode Anjorin Lagos A year to finish 2nd Tenure
Barr. Frank Owhor Rivers More Years to go
Alh. Aliyu Mohammed Sokoto —
Mr. Polycarp Azige Nasawara —
Alh. Umar Abba Gana Borno —
Rev. Fagboyegun Ajibola Ondo —
Mr. Emmanuel Teri Vahyala Adamawa —
Mr. Gangun Useni Taraba —
Mr. Nimitenbofa Dambo Bayelsa —
Dr. Casimir Anyanwu Imo —
Mr. Bolaji A. Anani C/Rivers —
