President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday swore-in the new chairman and 29 commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, the president urged the new appointees not to compromise the commission’s constitutional mandate for whatever reasons.
The president also urged them to be fair and just to the three arms of government- the executive, the legislature and the judiciary – as well as the three tiers of government – federal, state and local governments – at all times.
“The mandate of the Commission is very wide and has an important for our country’s economy. The commission must be fair and just to the three tiers and arms of government without compromising its core mandate,” he said.
The president also directed the commission to work hard towards meeting government’s target of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.
“In my speech on June 12 Democracy Day, I informed Nigerians that this administration has laid the foundation for transforming our country and liberating our people from the shackles of poverty by putting policies and measures to integrate our rural economies to the national economic grid.
“Our measure is to extend credit facilities currently available, to be able to encourage and support domestic production of basic goods and reduce our reliance on imported goods.
“I set a target for our country to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years. This commitment is to further challenge the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission to rise to its constitutional responsibilities and mandate,” he said.
The president said the new chairman and commissioners of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission were chosen based on the integrity and proven track records thus, much is expected from them.
“Your appointment as chairman and members of the commission was carefully considered based on your proven track records of hard work and integrity. It is therefore the expectation of government that you will rapidly and systematically set to work to address all areas of your mandate in a businesslike manner,” he said.
He assured the commission that the federal government would continue to provide all the necessary support that will facilitate its work.
He also called on the National Assembly to put in place relevant enabling laws that would guarantee the commission the legal ability to ensure that defaulters of revenue laws are appropriately sanctioned.
