The Federal Government has appointed Ambassador Desmond Akawor as Federal Commissioner of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC)
He has been given the green light by President Bola Tinubu.
This information on the official X (previously Twitter) handle of Fredrick Nwabufo, who serves as a Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Engagement. This information is included in an official press statement that was published on Thursday by the spokesperson for the president, Ajuri Ngelale.
It is, therefore, up to the Nigerian Senate to decide whether or not to confirm Akawor’s appointment to the position of new RMAFC federal commissioner representing Rivers State.
According to the announcement, the appointment of Ambassador Akawor came after the unfortunate passing of the most recent RMAFC Federal Commissioner from Rivers State, the Honourable Asondu Wenah Temple, earlier this month.
Before being given this position, Akawor had previously held the positions of Ambassador of Nigeria to South Korea, Minister of State of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and Sole Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority. He had also been a public servant in Nigeria for a considerable amount of time.
Among his previous positions, he served as the Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority and the Executive Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (Engineering and Technical Services), respectively.
The statement went on to say that President Tinubu has charged the new Ambassador Akawor with making use of his breadth of expertise in the civil service to reform processes that will enable the most effective and productive utilisation of allocations to all three levels of government in Nigeria. This responsibility was given to Ambassador Akawor by President Tinubu.
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The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation
“President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Ambassador Desmond Akawor to serve as a Federal Commissioner of the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), pending the confirmation of the Nigerian Senate.
“The new RMAFC Federal Commissioner, who represents Rivers State, is being appointed following the tragic demise of the immediate past RMAFC Federal Commissioner from Rivers State, Hon. Asondu Wenah Temple earlier this month.
“Ambassador Akawor is a decorated public servant who has served the nation as Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Korea; Minister of State of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT); Sole Administrator of the Greater Port Harcourt Development Authority; CEO, Niger Delta River Basin Development Authority, and Executive Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (Engineering & Technical Services).
“The President tasks the new Federal Commissioner to deploy his robust experience across tiers of government toward the comprehensive reformation of processes that will ensure the most efficient and productive utilisation of allocations to all three tiers of government in Nigeria.”
About RMAFC
The Federal Republic of Nigeria’s Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission keeps an eye on the money that comes in and goes out of the Federal Account. The Body also makes sure that the country’s formulas for allocating income are fair and consistent.
At the moment, Mohammed Bello Shehu is the Chairman. He took over from Engr. Elias Mbam, who quit to run for office in the 2023 general election.
It keeps an eye on how much money comes into and goes out of the Federation Account, looks over the Revenue Allocation Formula, gives advice to the Federal and State Governments on how to be more fiscally efficient and make more money, and decides how much politicians get paid.