Nigeria: Mimiko Calls for Review of Revenue Formula

Daniel Eteghe

28 June 2011

Ondo State Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimikko yesterday said there was need to review the current revenue formula in the country to enable the states meet the challenges facing them.

Speaking to newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, Governor Mimikko argued that a review of the revenue allocation formula was something that the country could not run away from as the states needed money to pay the N18.000 new minimum wage signed into law by President Jonathan.

According to him, “it is an issue that we cannot run away from, we need to review the revenue allocation formula so that more money will be deplored to the states and the peripheral in general.

He said, “Even now the states bear a lot of responsibilities, so we need commensurable resources to be able to drive developments. So, I am in support of the review of the revenue allocation formula.

When it is appropriately reviewed then the issue of ability to pay the minimum wage will be factored into it.”

Speaking on a recent visit to the World Bank, Governor Mimiko disclosed that the World Bank had given commitment to partner with the state in the scaling up its health care programme.

He said the state was “convinced that it is the way to go to be able to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on Maternal Health. So, for me it has been a very worthy visit and getting enough from the World Bank for a programme like this, for us, it is with all sense of modesty and something that is very classifying.”

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