Abia State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has called on Revenue Allocation, mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RAMFAC) initiate policies that would engage States, Local Governments and other critical stakeholders in revenue sharing and exploration of natural resources deposits in States.
Governor Ikpeazu made the call while receiving the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the Revenue Allocation, Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) and a former Deputy Governor of the state, Comrade Chris Akomas,Phd and his team at Government House, Umuahia.
Dr. Ikpeazu also harped on the need for review of the indices through which the Commission allocates funds from the Federation Account to various States across the Federation.
He observed that his greatest ambition was to have a life expectancy that is above the national average, closer to that of the Republic of CUBA which he said stands at 82 for female and 80 for male, adding that Abia under his watch was the first and only State to launch the Tele-Health Initiative and currently taking care of the elderly in various communities across the State.
The State Chief Executive who said that he is more concerned with producing young millionaires through poultry business and other Agricultural value chains informed that the State was embarking on key reforms with a view to increasing her IGR before the end of the first quarter of next year promising to collaborate with RAMFAC towards increasing the State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Earlier, the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the RAMFAC Chief Chris Akomas called for proper and efficient data of all mining activities going on in the state, adding that the mining sector should serve as alternative source of revenue for States across the country.
Chief Akomas who noted that Abia is blessed with huge mineral resources, sought the collaboration of the State in raising the revenue profile through other available sources and called on the State to work closely with the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development in order to reap the huge benefits therein.
