The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, RMAFC, has completed the review of Nigeria’s Revenue Allocation Formula and reallocated 17 oil wells from Imo State to Rivers State in line with a Supreme Court judgment.
The Commission also disclosed that it had concluded the review of remuneration for political, public and judicial office holders, with the recommendations at various stages of consideration by the appropriate authorities.
The Chairman of RMAFC, Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, made the disclosure during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, in Lagos, where he presented an overview of the Commission’s achievements and institutional progress from 2023 to date.
Shehu said the period had witnessed significant fiscal reforms, with RMAFC strengthening its constitutional mandate in revenue monitoring, derivation verification, fiscal coordination, and advisory functions on revenue allocation and remuneration.
According to him, the Commission had prioritised data integrity, inter-agency collaboration and equitable distribution of national revenue among the three tiers of government.
He explained that RMAFC had intensified the monitoring of oil and gas production data to ensure accurate application of the 13 per cent derivation principle.
Shehu said verification exercises, geospatial mapping and collaboration with relevant agencies had enabled the Commission to resolve several longstanding oil well attribution disputes, including the reallocation of 17 oil wells from Imo to Rivers State in compliance with a Supreme Court judgment.
He added that similar interventions had been carried out in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Anambra states, while improved gas production reporting had enabled Enugu and Kogi states to benefit from derivation revenues.
The RMAFC chairman said the Commission had also strengthened collaboration with the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, National Boundary Commission and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation to improve revenue monitoring and compliance.
He disclosed that the Commission was engaging the Ministry of Defence to address crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and production losses, which he described as major threats to national revenue.
Beyond the petroleum sector, Shehu said RMAFC was exploring additional revenue opportunities through partnerships with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, and the National Space Research and Development Agency, NASRDA, including the deployment of satellite and geospatial technologies to identify new revenue sources.
On remuneration, the chairman confirmed that the Commission had completed the review of salaries and allowances for judicial office holders, culminating in the enactment of the Judicial Office Holders, Salaries and Allowances, Act, 2025.
He said the review of remuneration for executive and legislative office holders was also at an advanced stage, with an executive bill on the Political and Public Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 2026, expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly.
Shehu stressed that remuneration reforms must be accompanied by accountability and improved performance, noting that better remuneration should translate into improved service delivery.
On the Revenue Allocation Formula, he described the review as one of the Commission’s most significant assignments, saying it followed extensive consultations with all tiers of government, technical stakeholders and participants across the country.
He said the exercise considered fiscal responsibilities, revenue trends and comparative federal systems, resulting in a harmonised report and legislative proposals now ready for transmission to the appropriate authorities.
According to him, the objective is to establish a more equitable and sustainable revenue-sharing framework that reflects current economic and governance realities.
Shehu also highlighted improvements in the Commission’s infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of critical facilities, enhanced security systems and ongoing renovation of its headquarters.
He said staff welfare had been prioritised through improved healthcare services, training and capacity development programmes designed to strengthen technical expertise within the Commission.
The chairman said the engagement with the Nigerian Guild of Editors was part of efforts to deepen transparency and improve public understanding of RMAFC’s constitutional mandate.
He reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to proactive communication, data-driven reforms and stronger collaboration with the media to promote accountability in public finance.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communication Committee, PACC, and Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State, Hon. Ismail Muhammed Agaka, commended the media for its role in strengthening democratic accountability and reaffirmed RMAFC’s commitment to sustained engagement with stakeholders.
Other members of the PACC present at the occasion were Hon. Peter Opara, Federal Commissioner representing Imo State; Hon. Ekene Enefe, Federal Commissioner representing Anambra State; Hon. Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha, Federal Commissioner representing Borno State; Hon. Ahmed Waziri Hassan, Federal Commissioner representing Adamawa State; Hon. Bob-Helen Inafa, Federal Commissioner representing Bayelsa State; Hon. Oti Nkechi Linda, Federal Commissioner representing Abia State; Prof. Olusegun Adekunle Wright, Federal Commissioner representing Lagos State; and Hon. Victor Eboigbe, Federal Commissioner representing Edo State.
