- Senate passes Bill empowering RMAFC to monitor Federation Account
The National Assembly yesterday passed an amendment to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act.
The resolution of the Senate followed its adoption of the report of its conference committee on the amendment of the NDLEA Act.
The Chairman of the Senate Conference Committee that harmonised the report of both chambers, Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno, said the amendment provides for life imprisonment for drug offenders.
The committee recommended that: “Any person who is unlawfully involved in the storage, custody, movement, carriage or concealment of dangerous drugs or controlled substances and who, while so involved is armed with any offensive weapon or is disguised in any way, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and liable on conviction to be sentenced to life imprisonment.”
Senators approved the recommendation when it was put to voice vote by Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin during plenary.
Also, the Senate has passed a Bill seeking to empower the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to monitor accruals to and disbursements from the Federation Account.
The Red Chamber passed the Bill following its consideration and adoption of a report by its committees on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Finance, and Appropriations during plenary.
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The proposed legislation, according to the Chairman of the Senate Joint Committees on National Planning and Economic Affairs, Finance and Appropriations, Yahaya Abudullahi, seeks to repeal the RMAFC Act, 2004, and replace it with the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission Bill, 2024.
The proposed law, he said, revised the composition and operational framework of the Commission to ensure that federal, state, and local governments receive the constitutionally mandated resources necessary to address governance and development challenges.
To enhance the commission’s efficiency, the committee chairman said the Bill proposed additional funding, allowing RMAFC to effectively discharge its constitutional responsibilities.
Abdullahi emphasised the importance of the amendment to the Bill amid dwindling national revenues and Nigeria’s rapidly growing population.
He added that the Act, last updated over two decades ago, no longer reflects the nation’s evolving economic realities.
According to him, the primary objective of the Bill is to reinforce the mandate and powers of the RMAFC as the constitutionally recognised body responsible for monitoring revenue generation and ensuring its equitable disbursement among the three tiers of government.
Abdullahi explained that the Bill prescribes a revamped structure and operational method for the commission, ensuring that federal, state, and local governments are adequately resourced to meet governance and developmental challenges.
“In the conduct of this onerous task the Commission requires adequate funding from the Federation Account, the lack of which has hitherto hampered the effective performance of its Constitutional responsibilities,” he said.
Senators approved the amendments to the Bill when Deputy Senate President Barau Jibrin put the recommendations in the report to voice vote.