By Sulyman Gobir
The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) have strengthened their partnership to advance local government autonomy, improve fiscal management and drive development at the grassroots.
The commitment followed a courtesy visit by a delegation of RMAFC Federal Commissioners to the ALGON National President, Hon. Bello Lawal, at the association’s national secretariat in Abuja.
The delegation was led by Hon. Aliyu Abdulkadir, the Federal Commissioner representing Nasarawa State and Chairman of RMAFC’s State and Local Government Monitoring Committee.
Speaking on behalf of RMAFC Chairman, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, Abdulkadir said the committee was established to deepen engagement with state and local governments and develop practical strategies for improving administration at the grassroots.
He noted that RMAFC, as a constitutional body, is empowered to monitor accruals and disbursements into and from the Federation Account, including funds constitutionally due to local governments.
Abdulkadir said the Commission would work with relevant stakeholders to ensure the effective implementation of local government autonomy, recently affirmed by the Supreme Court.
He also urged local government councils to strengthen their internally generated revenue and reduce excessive dependence on federal allocations.
Also speaking, Senator Marafa Bashir Abba, Federal Commissioner representing Taraba State and Vice Chairman of the State and Local Government Monitoring Committee, said the engagement would create an opportunity for both organisations to exchange ideas and address key challenges affecting local government administration.
He said the partnership would focus on critical issues, including the conduct of local government elections and measures to improve governance and accountability at the third tier.
Responding, ALGON National President, Bello Lawal, described RMAFC’s initiative as timely and crucial to the future of grassroots governance in Nigeria.
“When you empower local government, you empower the whole country because local government is where people actually live,” Lawal said.
He stressed that strong and functional local governments remained the foundation for sustainable national development.
Lawal also called for greater involvement of local governments in revenue allocation processes and pledged ALGON’s readiness to work closely with RMAFC on capacity building, fiscal discipline and improved utilisation of public resources.
Other members of the RMAFC delegation included Hon. Kabeer Muhammed Usman, representing Gombe State; Hon. Madu Ali Juluri of Yobe State; Hon. Rabiu Garba of Zamfara State; and Hon. (Amb.) Jacob Ayuba Mbako, representing the Federal Capital Territory.
The engagement underscores renewed efforts by RMAFC and ALGON to promote fiscal accountability, effective revenue management and a more autonomous and development-focused local government system across Nigeria.
