The Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Dr. Mohammed Bello Shehu, has commended Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, for what he described as prudent and effective management of the state’s resources.
Shehu made the remarks on Tuesday, September 16, 2026, during a courtesy visit to Governor Otti at his country home in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State.
The RMAFC chairman visited the governor alongside the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State on the commission, Mrs. Nkechi Oti, other commissioners and members of the delegation.
Speaking during the meeting, Shehu said the people of Abia were fortunate to have Otti as governor, pointing to the administration’s infrastructure and governance initiatives as evidence of the way public resources were being deployed.
He specifically highlighted the government’s investment in road infrastructure, noting that more than 400 roads, including bridges, had either been constructed or rehabilitated across the state.
According to him, the scale of road projects being executed demonstrates a deliberate effort to address critical infrastructure needs and improve connectivity across communities.
The RMAFC chairman also praised the administration’s interventions in the education sector, particularly the recruitment of thousands of teachers and the renovation, rehabilitation and upgrading of schools across Abia.
“I wouldn’t hesitate to say that this State is blessed to have you as Governor. Every independent analyst will testify that this is one of the best governed States in Nigeria,” Shehu said.
He further commended the state government’s efforts in primary healthcare, fiscal transparency and security, saying improvements in these areas were important indicators of responsible public administration.
Shehu also referenced Abia’s reported improvement in fiscal transparency, from 17th position to 4th position, as well as the reduction in the state’s debt profile. He said the developments reflected the administration’s approach to managing statutory allocations and other revenue accruing to the state.
Beyond Abia, the RMAFC chairman disclosed that the commission is implementing reforms designed to strengthen revenue monitoring, expand digitalisation and provide more timely access to revenue information generated by government agencies.
He also announced that work was ongoing on a review of Nigeria’s revenue allocation formula.
According to Shehu, the current formula has operated for several decades and requires adjustment to reflect the changing responsibilities of the Federal Government, states and local governments.
He noted that states now perform responsibilities in areas that were previously more heavily concentrated at the federal level, including aspects of transportation infrastructure and other public services.
On the Natural Resources Development Fund, Shehu said the commission was taking steps to ensure that funds intended for development purposes are recovered and properly applied.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for allocating land for the construction of an RMAFC permanent office in Abia State, assuring that the proposed facility would be developed in line with the commission’s standards nationwide.
Responding, Governor Otti thanked the RMAFC chairman for his commendation and explained that his administration had focused on using available resources to address the state’s most pressing needs.
The governor said his government had allocated more than 80 percent of its annual budgets to capital expenditure over the past three years, with significant attention given to infrastructure, education and healthcare.
“We are very happy that you are doing what you are doing. And we know that with the changes you are proposing, and with the President supporting us, States can be more empowered,” Otti stated.
The governor maintained that empowering states through a better revenue-sharing arrangement would enable them to undertake more development projects and provide improved services to citizens.
Otti also explained that many of the roads constructed by his administration were federal roads, but said the state government was willing to intervene where necessary when the appropriate authorization had been obtained.
He stressed that the government’s approach was based on prioritising areas of greatest need while working within the limits of available resources.
“All the good work we are doing is because we efficiently allocate our limited resources to areas of most important need,” the governor said.
Otti further noted that Abia remains a relatively small state in terms of federal allocations, despite having oil resources in one of its local government areas.
The governor expressed support for the RMAFC reforms and said he hoped the proposed revenue allocation formula would be implemented to give states greater financial capacity to deliver development.
As part of the visit, Governor Otti formally presented a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to the RMAFC chairman for the commission’s proposed permanent office in Abia State.
The gesture makes Abia the first state in the South-East to provide land to RMAFC for the construction of its permanent office, according to the state government.
The presentation marked a significant development in the commission’s plans to establish a permanent presence in the state.
The RMAFC delegation included the Federal Commissioner representing Abia State, Mrs. Nkechi Oti, alongside other commission officials.
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The Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff to the Governor, state commissioners and other senior government officials were also present during the meeting.
By Ctz. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha
Chief Press Secretary to the Executive Governor of Abia State
September 16, 2026
