‎RMAFC Begins Nationwide Data Verification to Review Revenue Sharing Formula

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‎The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has commenced a nationwide data verification exercise aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s revenue allocation framework and ensuring a fairer distribution of resources among states and local governments.
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‎The Commission said the exercise is designed to review the factors and proxies used in sharing revenue across the federation, with the objective of aligning allocations with current socio-economic realities.
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‎Speaking in a media interview, Chairman of the Commission, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, described the initiative as a landmark step toward deepening fiscal federalism and improving national development planning.
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‎He said credible and verified data remains the foundation of a fair and sustainable revenue allocation system.
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‎“The Commission is committed to ensuring that Nigeria’s revenue allocation framework reflects the realities on the ground. Accurate data is the backbone of fairness, equity, and national cohesion. This nationwide exercise represents our determination to build a more transparent and responsive revenue distribution system that serves the interests of all Nigerians,” he said.
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‎Shehu called on state governments, local authorities, traditional institutions, civil society organisations, and community leaders to cooperate fully with the Commission’s verification teams.
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‎According to him, the outcome of the exercise will have far-reaching implications for national planning, fiscal management, and balanced regional development.
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‎He noted that the exercise is both a statutory responsibility and a strategic national assignment aimed at strengthening institutional credibility and supporting evidence-based policymaking.
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‎As part of the rollout plan, RMAFC said region-by-region verification exercises would be conducted across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
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‎The Commission explained that the process would involve the systematic collection, validation, and reconciliation of key socio-economic and infrastructural data used in determining revenue allocation indices for horizontal revenue sharing.
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‎It added that attention would be given to indicators such as education and health provision, internal revenue generation capacity, and infrastructure development in states and local government areas.
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‎The Commission also disclosed that stakeholder engagement sessions would be held in each state to promote transparency, build trust, and encourage collaboration among government institutions and local communities.
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‎Shehu explained that Nigeria’s revenue allocation framework is based on indices such as population, landmass, infrastructure, and socio-economic development indicators, all of which require periodic review to reflect changing realities.
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‎“Over time, Nigeria has witnessed significant socio-economic transformations marked by population growth, expansion of infrastructure, urbanisation, and widening development gaps among regions. These evolving realities necessitate the validation of existing datasets to ensure fairness, transparency, and equity in revenue sharing,” he said.
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‎The RMAFC chairman further revealed that the ongoing review of the national revenue allocation formula had reached an advanced stage, making the verification exercise a critical step in ensuring the integrity and reliability of future allocations.
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‎He added that the Commission’s teams would engage Ministries, Departments and Agencies, local government authorities, and community stakeholders nationwide to ensure all relevant data reflects present-day conditions.