Secrets Reporters
The Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), a critical agency saddled with the responsibility of monitoring and disbursing Nigeria’s commonwealth, has earmarked over ₦2 billion for recurrent and seemingly non-developmental expenses in its 2025 fiscal year budget, according to a document exclusively obtained by SecretsReporters.
Established by Decree No. 49 of 1989 and amended by Decree 98 of 1993—now recognized under the RMAFC Act CAP R7 LFN 2004—RMAFC is one of the fourteen Federal Executive Bodies enshrined in Section 153(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The Commission has, since 2022, been chaired by Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu.
A detailed review of its 2025 budget reveals eyebrow-raising allocations for routine operations, with domestic travel, electricity, and consultancy services gulping a lion’s share.
Under “Local Travel and Transport – Training,” the Commission allocated a staggering ₦378,750,000, while an even more colossal ₦738,557,042.50 was penciled down for “Local Travel and Transport – Others.” In total, local movement alone will cost the agency ₦1.117 billion, a sum that could build dozens of classrooms or rehabilitate multiple rural healthcare centers across Nigeria.
Another jaw-dropping entry is the ₦542,400,000 earmarked for electricity charges, an amount that paints a grim picture of either unbridled consumption or a poorly negotiated power supply contract.
The Commission also budgeted ₦165,000,000 for “Local Training,” raising questions about the necessity and frequency of such training sessions when a similar allocation is already being channeled into travel for training purposes.
Not left out are basic operational line items such as:
₦130,168,442.50 for “Office Stationeries / Computer Consumables”
₦21,582,225.00 for “Maintenance of Motor Vehicles / Transport Equipment”
₦113,017,191.50 for “Security Services”
₦134,181,192.75 for “Legal Services”
₦65,650,000.00 for “Cleaning and Fumigation Services”
In the realm of staff comfort and corporate hospitality, RMAFC set aside:
₦94,905,000.00 for “Welfare Packages”
₦70,950,000.00 for “Refreshment and Meals”
₦35,656,767.50 for “Honorarium and Sitting Allowance”
Consultancy services also made the cut, with ₦55,000,000 dedicated to “Financial Consulting” and ₦115,500,000 for “Information Technology Consulting,” bringing the total for consultancy-related expenses to ₦170.5 million.
The eye-popping budget estimates have stirred murmurs in fiscal policy circles, not least because RMAFC’s core mandate revolves around fiscal prudence and equitable revenue distribution. Yet, in a country grappling with rising debt, ballooning inflation, and deteriorating infrastructure, the Commission’s spending pattern—as reflected in this budget—reads like a playbook from a gilded age.