THE State Government has demanded a one per cent special status in the federal revenue allocation formula.
The demand was made in a memorandum presented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and Head of Kano State delegation, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, Wazirin Gaya, during the northwest Zonal public hearing on the review of the current vertical revenue allocation formula organised by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission in Kaduna yesterday.
Alhaji Alhaji said the demand was genuine and justifiable, considering the enormous responsibilities the state was currently shouldering due to high influx of people displaced by insecurity in neighboring states, including Katsina, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto and others.
He also highlighted the status of the state as the most populous, cosmopolitan and heterogeneous, saying it attracted people from all parts of the country and beyond being the commercial hub of the North.
He urged the Federal Government to positively consider the special status demand so as to support the development of Kano, particularly in the areas of agriculture, trade, commerce and manufacturing, stressing that “it will translate into rapid development for the country generally”.
The SSG further said that the current revenue sharing formula was skewed largely in favour of the federal government to the detriment of states and local governments as the federating units, described the development “uneven, unfair and unjust”.
A statement by the Director of Information, Ministry of information, Inuwa Idris Yakasai, said that the SSG proposed a new sharing formula of 41 per cent for federal government, 34 per cent for states and 24 percent for local governments while the 13 per cent derivation should be maintained.
The Kano State delegation to the North West zonal public hearing comprised of commissioners, special advisers, top civil servants, traditional leaders, representatives of CSOs, NGOs and students organizations.
Other states that presented memoranda at the occasion included Jigawa, Kaduna, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
Meanwhile, the zone has demanded the lion’s share of the federation allocation for states and local governments.
The zone said the two arms of the government should take 60 per cent while 40 per cent should go to the Federal Government.
Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, said, “The Federal Government retains the largest chunk of federation resources. It does too much but is too stretched and so does little well. Yet, the things that really matter to citizens are state and local government functions.
“Therefore, the argument for a significant review, in favour of states, of the vertical revenue allocation formula is compelling. The Federal Government has to consolidate its focus around security, foreign affairs and monetary and fiscal policy.”
