Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue state has called on the Federal Government to review upward the revenue sharing formula to make more money available to states and local governments in the

country.

He, however, bemoaned the situation where the state had no representative at the agency, which may have adversely affected allocation to the state.

The Governor disclosed this when he played host to the Federal Commissioner representing the state at the Revenue Mobilisation,

Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC), Chief Adaa Maagbe who paid him a courtesy visit at government house, Makurdi, last weekend.

Orton who appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for finding Maagbe worthy of the appointment.

He hoped that the state would fare better in terms of revenue sharing than it did in the past two years when it had no representative at the

Commission.

The governor who called on the Federal Government to review upward the revenue sharing formula stated that the upward review of allocations to states that would lead to greater development.

According to him, it was no longer feasible for states to cope with development realities and the payment of the new national minimum wage using the current revenue sharing formula.

Orton who noted the willingness of states to pay the N30,000 national minimum wage, however argued that states would do better if the revenue sharing formula was reviewed upwards.

The Governor reiterated the directive he earlier issued to Caretaker Chairmen in the state as well as the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs to comply with the guidelines issued by the

Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) on funds allocated the local government councils in the state.

He however noted that he issued the directive pending the hearing and determination of the suit filed by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum challenging the constitutionality of the new regulations.

Earlier, the Federal Commissioner representing the state at the RMAFC, Adaa Maagbe had solicited the support of Governor Ortom to enable him succeed in his assignment at the Commission. (Sunday Independent)

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