State Government goes to Supreme Court over alleged deductions from Federation Account
The Adamawa State Government has gone to the Supreme Court seeking interpretation of Section 162 (1), (2) and (3) of the Constitution regarding the distribution of revenue from the Federation Account.
The State Government is asking the apex court to notice where the constitution stipulates that “The entire sum in the Federation Account must be distributed among all levels of government without deductions, except as permitted by law.”
The government, in a statement by Governor Ahmadu Fintiri’s Chief Press Secretary, Humwashi Wonosikou restated the constitutional provision that the President must comply strictly with the Constitution in managing and distributing revenue.
“All revenue collected, except those exempted by the Constitution, must be paid into the Federation Account for distribution to all tiers of government,” the Adamawa State Government said, squoting the constitution.
It said the Federal Government has no discretion to withhold or deduct revenue for any purpose not expressly permitted by the Constitution.
According to the statement, the Adamawa State Government is in essence seeking a declaration that
the Federal Government must distribute the entire revenue from the Federation Account without deductions, except as permitted by law.
“The State Government is seeking a strict interpretation of the Constitution to ensure that revenue distribution is done in a transparent and constitutional manner, without arbitrary deductions or withholdings by the Federal Government,” the statement from the Government House in Yola said.
