Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Yobe State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to support the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) as it commences the 2026 National Data Verification Exercise in the state, part of a broader nationwide effort to validate key fiscal and infrastructural data used in revenue allocation decisions across Nigeria.
The assurance was given by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Muhammad Lawan Gana, who spoke on behalf of the state government during a briefing with the RMAFC delegation held at the Office of the Secretary to the State Government in Damaturu. He stated that the state fully recognizes the importance of the exercise and will cooperate with the commission to ensure its smooth implementation.
According to him, the verification exercise is designed to review and confirm data earlier submitted by state and local government authorities on critical public infrastructure and financial performance. These include government-owned primary, secondary, technical, vocational, and special education institutions, as well as healthcare facilities, with particular attention to hospital bed capacity and incubator availability.
The exercise also covers the assessment of internally generated revenue records for both state and local governments covering a five-year period from January 2021 to December 2025. This component is aimed at ensuring accuracy in financial reporting, which plays a key role in determining how revenue is shared among Nigeria’s three tiers of government.
The leader of the RMAFC delegation, Federal Commissioner representing Sokoto State, Alhaji Abubakar Wamakko, explained that the exercise is being carried out in line with the constitutional mandate of the Commission as provided under Paragraph 32 of the Third Schedule to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). He noted that this provision empowers RMAFC to continuously review the revenue allocation formula to reflect changing national realities.
He emphasized that accurate and reliable data is essential for equitable revenue distribution, adding that discrepancies in reported figures can significantly affect planning, budgeting, and development outcomes across the country. He stressed that the exercise is not merely administrative but fundamental to improving fiscal governance and national resource management.
Also speaking, the Federal Commissioner representing Yobe State in RMAFC, Alhaji Modu Aji Juluri, assured stakeholders that the state would provide accurate and verifiable data throughout the exercise. He explained that the process would help strengthen development planning and ensure that citizens benefit more effectively from public resources.
Juluri added that the verification exercise would contribute to improving governance outcomes in Yobe State by ensuring that planning decisions are based on reliable and up-to-date information. He expressed confidence that the outcome would support fairer allocation of national resources and better service delivery.
The National Data Verification Exercise is part of a broader initiative by RMAFC to update and standardize data across Nigeria’s states and local governments. The Commission is responsible for advising the federal government on revenue allocation among the federal, state, and local government levels, making its data collection process central to fiscal planning in the country.
In recent years, concerns have been raised about inconsistencies in data submitted by different tiers of government, particularly in areas such as internally generated revenue, public infrastructure records, and demographic statistics. These inconsistencies have sometimes affected revenue allocation decisions and development planning at national and subnational levels.
The current exercise is therefore intended to address these gaps by ensuring that all data used in fiscal decision-making is accurate, verifiable, and up to date. Officials say this will improve transparency, strengthen accountability, and enhance efficiency in public financial management.
Yobe State, located in Nigeria’s North-East region, has continued to rebuild its public infrastructure following years of security challenges that affected development in several parts of the state. Accurate data collection is seen as particularly important in this context, as it allows for proper assessment of progress in education, healthcare, and economic development.
State officials say participation in the verification exercise will help provide a clearer picture of development needs and support better-targeted government interventions. They also believe it will improve the state’s ability to attract resources and implement effective development policies.
The RMAFC delegation is expected to engage with relevant ministries, departments, and local government authorities in Yobe State as part of its verification process. The team will cross-check submitted records, review documentation, and gather additional information where necessary to ensure accuracy.
At the end of the exercise, findings are expected to feed into broader national discussions on revenue allocation reforms and data management improvements within Nigeria’s fiscal federalism structure.
Authorities in Yobe State have reiterated their readiness to fully cooperate with the Commission, emphasizing that the exercise aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen governance systems, improve transparency, and ensure equitable development across all sectors of the state economy.
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