The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission ( RMAFC) has been urged to sustain its transparency and accountability policy.
His Excellency, Alh Yahaya Bello made the call during a meeting of the Nationwide Monitoring of Revenue collections and the activities of Miners at the State and Local governments Councils by the Commission in Lokoja
In his keynote address, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who was represented by his Deputy, Chief Edward Onoja noted that it is gratifying to know that the commission has made remarkable efforts in recent times by deciding to go into the activities of miners in the State and Local Governments nationwide.
The Governor said the new developments will in no small measure identify the gaps and leakages both directly and indirectly.
Alh. Yahaya Bello noted that the annual huge loss of money is attributed to the failure of proper supervision and accountability of the miners in the state. He said that what is due to the federation has continuously been filtered away by illegal miners.
He commended the commission for its new direction, citing that, it will help the Nigerian state optimize all the collectibles while enhancing the boost of the federation revenue.
While adjudging the state as the biggest contributor to the solid mineral extraction exploration sector, in the country, His Excellency said the evidence is clear with the state having the largest steel company in Africa
He, however, charged the commission that by end of this exercise, the Commission should have been able to identify the quantity the miners extract as well as what they manufacture daily saying, it will go a long way to help the state put figures to what has been lost over the years. He also appealed to the commission if the laws establishing the commission will allow them to do the backward review of what should have been paid but not yet paid to the state.
He further said if the goals of the meeting can be achieved, miners’ activities are properly checked and monitored monthly, the allocation of the state will be improved
While assuring the Federal Commissioner and his team of maximum security in the state, His Excellency said Kogi state is the most peaceful state in northern Nigeria and therefore wished them peaceful and fruitful deliberations
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Asiwaju idris maintained that solid minerals is playing a vital role and it is good to know that the state is blessed with large quantities.
He thanked the commission and urged them to continue to improve in their efforts to ensure that there’s efficiency in knowing what is accrued to the commission by the federation for proper disbursement to all the tires of government.
While noting that miners and companies engaged in mining activities do not have adequate records, Hon. Idris called for a close monitoring of miners as well as comprehensive record keeping in the state.
Appreciating the commission for its contribution to ensuring that Kogi state is one of the oil-producing states the commissioner said the states look forward to receiving its first allocation as an oil-producing state.
Similarly, in his welcome address, the Federal commissioner, representing the state, Hon. Abdulazeez Idris King said the commission in 2016, in collaboration with the Ministry of Mines and Steel Dev. and other stakeholders access the challenges hindering optimum revenue collection in the sector and this is the second phase embarked upon by the commission’s nationwide monitoring of revenue collections and the activities of miners at the state local government councils.
He disclosed that one of the objectives of this program is to dialogue with stakeholders on the findings of the 2016 exercise with the sole aim of proffering solutions to the identified challenges.
He said the commission is empowered by sections 32A and C to monitor accrual into the disbursement of revenue from the federation account and to advise the Federal, State, and Local government on physical efficiency and method by which their revenue can be enhanced.
Hon. Kings said the commission is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring prompt and accurate remittance to the federation account thereby securing more money to the federation account as well as allocating more money to the state.
