Review Revenue Sharing Formula, Tambuwal Tells FG

Mohammed Aminu in Sokoto

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on Monday urged the federal government to review the revenue sharing formula with states and local government councils getting more money to conduct development projects.

Speaking at the 2017 Law Week organised by the Nigeria Bar Association in Sokoto, Tambuwal maintained that with the review of the revenue sharing formula, states and local government councils should get more than the federal government.

He noted that most states were battling with development challenges, hence the need for urgent review of the sharing formula for even development of the country.

“I believe the states and local government councils should get more revenue than the federal government because they are the ones grappling with myriad of challenges.
“So, there is need for urgent review of the revenue sharing formula to enable states embark on more development projects while the federal government should receive less,” Tambuwal said.

The governor underscored the need for the issue of railways to be removed from the exclusive list to enable states embark on construction of rail lines.
According to him, doing so would enable state governments to attract investors to construct rail lines in their states, which will go a long way in enhancing transportation in the country.

Tambuwal also stressed the need for the federal government to allow states to generate, transmit and distribute power to the people.
He decried that a situation where power generated by states were being evacuated to the national grid before distribution should be discouraged.

The governor also frowned at the way representatives of states in federal government agencies and commission were appointed by the federal government without being nominated by the states.
“Appointees for various agencies and commission such as the National Population Commission (NPC) and Federal Character Commission (FCC) should be nominated and cleared by the state assembly because they are going to represent states and not the federal government.”

Tambuwal to this end, pledged to upgrade and construct new courts, provide new vehicles to judges and magistrates as well as improve the allowances of judicial officers in the state.
He added that the state government had concluded plans to review obsolete laws in the state by updating them in line with current realities.

In a remark, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, called on the members of the legal profession in the state, to come out with a strategy that would ease congestion in the courts, reduce cost of litigation, ensure quick dispensation of justice as well as deal positively with the phenomenon of alternative dispute resolution.

The monarch, who spoke through th Magajin Gari, Alhaji Rilwan Bello, said it was the duty of lawyers to enlighten the general public on the nitty-gritty of these laws and their binding force to the society.
He expressed concern at the lack of enforcement of legal rules, regulation and procedures as well as lack of accountability in government.

The monarch admonished the judiciary to redouble efforts in safeguarding the nation’s democracy by reforming the judicial system.
The Chairman of the NBA Sokoto State chapter, Lema Sambo Wali, described the law week as an avenue for legal practitioners to enhance their professional development, interact with other members of the society and strengthen the bond of brotherhood.