RMAFC: Perish the plan – A rejoinder, by Engr. Bello Gwarzo Abdullahi, FNSE
The article titled “RMAFC: Perish the Plan”, authored by the ever-engaging and perceptive Mr. Nick Dazang, and published in Vanguard News on September 1, 2025, makes for a compelling and lucid read.
It raises critical and deeply reflective questions surrounding the responsibilities and priorities of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), especially in the context of the current socio-economic challenges facing Nigeria.
Mr. Dazang’s piece, while concise, touches on several key issues that deserve broader engagement. For ease of analysis and emphasis, I will summarise and comment on the central points he raised:
1. Mandate of the RMAFC
Mr. Dazang rightly reiterates that the RMAFC, as empowered by the Constitution, plays a pivotal role in fixing the remuneration of political office holders—ranging from the President and Vice President to Governors, Ministers, Commissioners, and Special Advisers. This is not a trivial responsibility, as the Commission is expected to act with fairness, objectivity, and due regard to the national interest.
2. Revenue Sharing Formula
One of the Commission’s core responsibilities is the periodic review of the revenue sharing formula among the three tiers of government—federal, state, and local. This is constitutionally required to be done at least every five years to reflect the dynamic economic realities of the country. Sadly, this aspect of the RMAFC’s mandate has received far less attention than it deserves.
3. Proposal to Review Salaries
The RMAFC Chairman was recently quoted as advocating for a review of the salaries of political office holders, citing the fact that these salaries have remained unchanged since 2008, despite significant depreciation of the Naira and inflationary pressures. On the surface, this may seem like a rational argument. However, such a proposal must be weighed against the prevailing economic hardship faced by the vast majority of Nigerians.
4. Service versus Self-interest
It is commendable that the RMAFC Chairman acknowledged the importance of public office being about service to the people, rather than personal enrichment.
However, this noble ideal is often at odds with the reality on the ground, where political office has unfortunately become synonymous with personal gain, impunity, and, to borrow the words of the late General Salihu Ibrahim, “a situation where anything goes.”
5. Public Reaction and Sensitivity
Mr. Dazang astutely points out that the proposal to increase political office holders’ salaries, at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship, rising inflation, mass unemployment, and decaying infrastructure, is not only ill-timed but could also be perceived as insensitive and unjust. It risks provoking further public outrage, especially among civil servants, professionals, and the general populace whose earnings have remained stagnant or eroded in real value.
Perspective and Conclusion
While the constitutional mandate of the RMAFC includes the periodic review of remuneration for political office holders, the exercise of such a mandate must be guided by prudence, public interest, and a keen understanding of the socio-economic context. The optics of such a review—coming at a time when many citizens are struggling to afford basic necessities—are, at best, tone-deaf and, at worst, provocative.
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A more responsible and impactful approach would be for the RMAFC to focus on revisiting the revenue allocation formula, which has remained largely unchanged for decades, and is arguably more urgent and consequential to national development. Equitable resource distribution among the federal, state, and local governments could enhance governance, deepen development at the grassroots, and reduce pressure on the centre.
In conclusion, while one may appreciate the RMAFC’s desire to perform its constitutional duties, the timing and prioritization of its agenda matter greatly. As such, I align with Mr. Dazang’s call: Perish the plan—at least for now. Let the Commission redirect its efforts to more pressing national needs, where its impact would be most felt and appreciated by the Nigerian people.
bgabdullahi@gmail.com
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