New revenue allocation formula ready in December - RMAFC – Newstrends
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New revenue allocation formula ready in December – RMAFC

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A new revenue allocation formula will be presented to President Muhammadu Buhari by the end of 2021, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said.

The Chairman of RMAFC, Elias Mbam, stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at a briefing on the proposed new revenue allocation formula.

He said, “The new formula will meet yearning and expectations of three tiers of governments.”

The RMAFC chairman also said, “The formula which is being reviewed is targeted at equitable distribution of the accrued revenue into the Federation Account to the three tiers of government and this will be concluded before the end of 2021.”

He said one of the reasons for embarking on the proposed new revenue formula was “the political structure of the country has since changed with the creation of six additional states in 1996, which brought the number of states to 36. Correspondingly, the number of local governments also increased from 589 to 774.”

He also said, “There have been some considerable changes arising from the policy reforms that altered the relative share of responsibilities of the various tiers of government including the, controversies over funding of primary education, primary health care.

“Inadequate/decaying infrastructure and heightened widespread internal security challenges across the country. Ecological challenges like global warming, desertification, flooding and population explosion; and inability of the current vertical formula to adequately address the apparent mismatch between statutorily assigned functions and tax powers of each of the three levels of government.”

Mbam said the current vertical revenue formula being used by the three tiers of government was reviewed and passed into law 28 years ago.

The age of the revenue formula in use, he said, had made it imperative for a new revenue formula.

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How to use $23bn forex reserves to stablise exchange rate, by Uwaleke

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How to use $23bn forex reserves to stablise exchange rate, by Uwaleke

A financial expert, Prof. Uche Uwaleke has said the accretion of Foreign Exchange Reserves (NRER) at 23.11 billion dollars to Nigeria’s external reserves puts the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in a stronger position to defend the value of the naira.

“The CBN can leverage rising external reserves to intervene in the forex market whenever it becomes necessary to stabilise the exchange rate,” Uwaleke said while arguing that the current size of the NER will positively impact on the value of the Naira.

Uwaleke, a Professor of Capital Market at the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, is also the President of the Capital Market Academics of Nigeria, however, raised concerns that the increase in the nation’s foreign reserves had been largely on account of temporary FX inflows such as Foreign Portfolio Investments (FPIs) and foreign loans.

He said that they represented unsustainable sources of growing external reserves.

“Impatient capital such as FPIs carry a lot of risks and have the potential of destabilising the economy whenever they leave the country.

“Against this backdrop, the government should pay more attention to diversifying the export base of the economy, especially via agriculture and solid minerals.

“The government should also create the enabling environment that attracts sustainable Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) ,” he said.

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The CBN recently revealed that the NFER stood at 23.11 billion dollars at the end of 2024, their highest level in three years.

The apex bank said that the development signalled a major improvement in the country’s external financial position.

It said that the NFER, which adjusts gross reserves to account for near-term liabilities such as currency swaps and forward contracts, stood at 3.99 billion dollars at the end of 2023.

According to the CBN Governor, Yemi Cardoso, the improved position was due to substantial reduction in short-term foreign exchange liabilities, notably swaps and forward obligations.

Cardoso cited measures aimed at boosting forex market confidence and reserves, alongside increased non-oil foreign exchange inflows.

“This improvement in our net reserves is not accidental; it is the outcome of deliberate policy choices aimed at rebuilding confidence, reducing vulnerabilities, and laying the foundation for long-term stability.

“We remain focused on sustaining this progress through transparency, discipline, and market-driven reforms,” Cardoso said.

He said that Gross external reserves also climbed to 40.19 billion dollars at the end of 2024, up from 33.22 billion dollars the previous year.

“Reserves declined in the first quarter of 2025 due to seasonal factors and foreign debt interest payments, the CBN anticipates a steady uptick in reserves throughout the second quarter,” Cardoso said.

 

How to use $23bn forex reserves to stablise exchange rate, by Uwaleke
(NAN)

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Fuel prices to fall as global cost of crude drops

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Fuel prices to fall as global cost of crude drops 

Nigerians are expected to pay less for Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, as the price of Brent dropped to $65 per barrel from $69.90 per barrel in the global market.

The price of Brent is used globally to benchmark the prices of other crudes. major feedstocks – and by extension petroleum products prices.

The development was partly fueled by the US President Donald Trump’s announcement of sweeping new tariffs.

This was reportedly fueled by the decision of the Organisation of Oil Producing Countries and its allies to increase oil output by 410,000 barrels per day starting May 2025 far above the 135,000 barrels originally planned.

A report by Vanguard stated that the depot prices of Mainland, A.Y.M and Ever have dropped to N918 per litre from N920 and N919 from N920 per litre, respectively.

Also, the depot prices of Prudent, Eterna and Soroman have dropped to N912 from N913 per litre, N897 from N900 per litre and N915 from N916 per litre, respectively.

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According to petroleumprice.ng, oil marketers would likely adjust their pump prices downwards as they get new supplies this week, if the current market condition persists.

The Vanguard report quoted the President of Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, PETROAN, Billy Gillis-Harry, expressed optimism that the development would culminate in low costs of fares, goods and services if the fundamentals persist in the market.

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CBN injects $197.71m to boost FX as Trump trade tariff spreads

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CBN injects $197.71m to boost FX as Trump trade tariff spreads

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has supplied $197.71 million to the foreign exchange market through sales to authorised dealers.

The apex bank’s director of financial markets department, Omolara Duke, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

She noted that the intervention aligned with the apex bank’s ongoing commitment to ensuring adequate liquidity and supporting orderly market functioning.

According to Ms Duke, the move reflects the CBN’s broader objective of fostering a stable, transparent, and efficient foreign exchange market.

She said the decision was largely influenced by recent movements in the FX market, driven by the announcement of new U.S. tariffs and declining crude oil prices.

“The CBN has observed recent fluctuations in the foreign exchange market between April 3 and April 4.

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“These are reflective of broader global macroeconomic shifts currently impacting several emerging markets and developing economies.

“These developments stem from the recent announcement by the United States government of new import tariffs on goods from several economies, triggering a period of adjustment across global markets,” she said.

Ms Duke said crude oil prices had dropped by over 12 per cent, falling to approximately $$65.50 per barrel, introducing new challenges for oil-exporting nations like Nigeria.

She said the CBN would continue monitoring global and domestic market conditions.

Ms Duke expressed confidence in the resilience of Nigeria’s foreign exchange framework, which is designed to adjust in line with evolving economic fundamentals.

“All authorised dealers are reminded to strictly adhere to the principles outlined in the Nigerian FX Market Code and uphold the highest standards in their dealings with clients and market counterparties,” she said.

CBN injects $197.71m to boost FX as Trump trade tariff spreads

(NAN)

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