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The Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), at the weekend, said it had completed the upward review of President Bola Tinubu’s salary and those of other political, public and judicial office-holders, and that the review was receiving attention from the appropriate authorities.
Chairman of RMAFC, Dr Mohammed Bello Shehu, made the disclosure during an interactive session with members of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) in Lagos, where he presented an overview of the commission’s achievements and institutional progress from 2023 to date.
He said the period under review had been marked by significant fiscal reforms, with the commission strengthening its constitutional mandate of revenue monitoring, derivation verification, fiscal co-ordination and advisory functions on remuneration and revenue allocation.
According to him, RMAFC has focused on improving data integrity, enhancing inter-agency collaboration and ensuring equitable distribution of national revenue across the three tiers of government.
In a statement, the Head of the Information and Public Relations Unit of RMAFC, Maryam Umar Yusuf, explained that the chairman noted that the commission had intensified monitoring of oil and gas production data to ensure the accurate application of the 13 per cent derivation principle.
He noted that through verification exercises, geospatial mapping and inter-agency collaboration, the commission resolved several long-standing oil well attribution issues, including the reallocation of 17 oil wells from Imo State to Rivers State in line with a Supreme Court judgment.
He added that similar interventions had been undertaken in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo and Anambra states, while improved gas production reporting had enabled Enugu and Kogi states to benefit from derivation revenues.
The chairman further said that RMAFC had strengthened collaboration with key institutions, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the National Boundary Commission, and the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, to improve revenue monitoring and compliance.
He also disclosed ongoing engagement with the Ministry of Defence to address crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism and production losses, describing them as major threats to national revenue.
Beyond the petroleum sector, Shehu said the commission was exploring new revenue opportunities through partnerships with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), including the use of satellite and geospatial technologies to identify additional revenue sources.
Shehu confirmed that the commission had completed the review of remuneration for judicial office-holders, culminating in the enactment of the Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 2025.
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He added that the review of remuneration for executive and legislative office-holders was also at an advanced stage, with an executive bill on the Political and Public Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 2026, expected to be transmitted to the National Assembly.
He stressed that remuneration reforms must be matched with accountability and performance, noting that improved pay should translate into improved service delivery.
On the subject of the review of the Revenue Allocation Formula, Shehu described it as one of the commission’s most significant assignments, noting that it was undertaken through extensive consultations with all tiers of government, technical stakeholders and nationwide engagements.
He said the exercise involved analysis of fiscal responsibilities, revenue trends and comparative federal systems, resulting in a harmonised report and legislative proposals now ready for transmission to the appropriate authorities.
According to him, the objective is to establish a more equitable and sustainable revenue-sharing framework that reflects current economic and governance realities.
The chairman also highlighted improvements in the commission’s infrastructure, including the rehabilitation of critical facilities, enhanced security systems and the ongoing renovation of its headquarters.
He said staff welfare had been prioritised through improved healthcare services, training programmes and capacity development initiatives aimed at strengthening technical expertise within the commission.
The chairman said the engagement with the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) was part of efforts to deepen transparency and improve public understanding of RMAFC’s mandate.
He reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to proactive communication, data-driven reforms and stronger collaboration with the media in promoting accountability in public finance.
In his vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Public Affairs and Communication Committee (PACC) and Federal Commissioner representing Kwara State in the commission, Honourable Ismail Muhammed Agaka, commended the media for its role in strengthening democratic accountability and reaffirmed RMAFC’s commitment to sustained engagement with stakeholders.
