Abia seeks increase in revenue allocation from RMAFC

Governor Alex Otti of Abia State says that he wants an increased revenue allocation from the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to Abia State to enable the State to develop more.

Governor Otti made the call Sunday when he hosted Nkechi Oti, the Federal Commissioner, representing Abia State at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and her team, who called on him to hand over reports on their findings after a familiarisation visit and stakeholders’ engagements in the State.

Governor Otti, who said that an increase from the Federal revenue allocation, would help the State to execute many of its projects, noted that he has demonstrated financial discipline, an attitude that distinguished Abia State in a recent report of the Debt Management Office (DMO).

“Anything you can do to help us increase our Federal allocation will be much appreciated, by your State and by the government. Once again, thank you for the report. I will take my time and read through it.

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“We have a lot of things on our hands. If we get more money to be able to execute them, why not? Particularly, we have also shown financial discipline.

“I am sure you may have seen the report that came out last week, which shows that our State has done well in terms of reduction of debt.

“That could only have happened, because we are disciplined in terms of how we spend. We only spend when it is absolutely necessary and for the right reasons”, Governor Otti stated.

While thanking Oti for the observations they made in various areas and agencies of the Abia State Government, the Governor said that he has noted them and added that his government is a responsible one, and believes that things should be done properly.

For the issue of overstaffing observed in Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (ASOPADEC) by the Federal Commissioner, Governor Otti, assured that he would handle it urgently.

“I will also engage further with ASOPADEC to understand what their problem is. The truth is that we do not want to throw people into the job market.

“What I had instructed was some form of restructuring. If there is excess capacity, they could be sent somewhere else rather than putting them in the unemployment queue.

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“The Head of Service should also be part of this meeting. It should happen as quickly as possible so that we can look at the headcount and know how to send some people to other places, Governor Otti stated.

Governor Otti congratulated the Federal Commissioner on her appointment and assured her and RMAFC of the collaboration and support of the Abia State Government.

Nkechi Oti, the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, said that she was in the State for a familiarisation visit, having been appointed into office a few months ago.

She further noted that her team had visited various agencies and stakeholders and discovered that the Governor has done great in many areas, including road infrastructure, digitalization of internally generated revenue (IGR), upgrading of public schools, healthcare centres and the employment of over 5,000 teachers among others.