Mai-Mala Buni, Yobe State Governor
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Yobe-
The Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni has called on The Committee on Fiscal Efficiency and Budget under The Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission (RMFC) to create avenue for economic diversification in order to curtail the country’s over dependency on oil and gas.
Governor Buni gave the call yesterday at the Government House Damaturu when he granted audience to committee members who were led by its Chairman, Alh Adamu Shettima Dibal on a courtesy visit to the governor.
Represented by the State Deputy Governor, Hon Idi Barde Gubana, said: “The government together with relevant organizations and stakeholdersis are making concerted efforts to overcome the challenges of post insurgency in the state”.
“As one of the reliable organization that could intervene on the state economic rejuvenation drive, no doubt the RMaFC consist of noble and patriotic citizens of the great country with their minds always get on exploring avenues for multiple revenue generation sources and development of the country.
“Government decided to seek for its kind indulgence to enable the state access fund from the Natural Resources Development Fund ( NRDF) to develop Natural Resources and Tourism sectors for the purpose of post insurgency recovery, enhancement of internally generated revenue and accelerated economic rejuvenation”, Idi said.
Responding, the committee chairman who is a former Deputy Governor of Borno state, Alhaji Adamu Dibal said recently Yobe state government made a request to the commission to access over N50 billion from the 1.68% development of National Resources Funds ( DNRF).
He revealed that the money requested will be used to assist the state in developing and diversifying its economic potentials in the three (3) sectors of Agriculture, Solid minerals and Tourism, aimed towards creating jobs, revenue generation, attract investors, increase purchasing power, reduce youth restiveness and increase internally generated revenue of the state.
However, the chairman noted that the Committee’s visit is part of the process required for accessing the requested funds.
According to him, “At the end of the exercise, a report will be generated by the committee with sound recommendations on the appropriate amount that the state should access”, Dibal said.
While commenting Governor Buni for transforming the state, he assured that fairness and equity would be made in making sound recommendations for the state.