The Federal Government, states and local governments shared N701 billion as revenue for the month of April, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, said on Wednesday in Abuja.

Mr Isa-Dutse said the amounts shared were the outcome of Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) meeting.

Giving a breakdown of the revenue accrued in April, the permanent secretary said mineral revenue increased by N50.7 billion, that is from N360.51 billion in March to N411.2 billion in April. 

He added that non-mineral revenue also increased by N81.25 billion, from N120 billion in March to N201.3 billion in April.

“Also, average crude oil price increased from 65.7 dollars to 66.78 dollars per barrel. 

“Performance for the month in review would have been better but for a few production shut-ins and shut-downs at various terminals for repairs and maintenance.”

Mr Isa-Dutse said looking at the significant increase in revenues, the federal, states and local government decided to save some of the month’s revenue for the rainy day.

In summary, Mr Isa-Dutse said, N276.53 billion was allocated to Federal Government, N140.2 billion to states and N108.1 billion was allocated to local governments. 

On the issue of reconciliation of accounts with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Isa-Dutse said it was ongoing.

He explained that reconciliation of monies collected by revenue generating agencies was also ongoing.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Finance Commissioner’s Forum, Mahmud Yunusa, said states were planning to contest the current revenue sharing formula.

He said it was not fair that Federal Government should take the lion share of the revenue “when states and local governments were closer to the people

“We are clamouring for review of the revenue sharing formula because most people reside in states and local governments.

“The Federal Government only controls Abuja but where the real Nigerians reside are states and local governments.

“So, we believe they should have more revenues so that they can work better, so that the people will feel the impact and presence of government.”

Mr Yunusa said states would soon make their demand formal so that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) would begin the process of reviewing the current revenue sharing formula.

Currently, the country is operating on a revenue allocation formula of: Federal Government — 52.68 per cent, State Governments — 26.72 per cent and Local Governments — 20.60 per cent. 

Also, 13 per cent of the oil and gas federally collected revenue is given to oil-producing states and communities as derivation revenue to compensate for ecological risks of oil production.

This formula was designed during the President Olusegun Obasanjo Administration. 

Source:- Premiumtimesng