The North East Civil Society Network (NECSN) has called for constitutional reforms to enhance governance, transparency, and accountability in Nigeria’s fiscal operations and electoral processes.
They presented a memorandum to the Senate Committee on Constitutional Review, proposing key reforms, including establishment of autonomous Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation, and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to enhance transparency and accountability in revenue management.
Granting RMAFC enforcement powers to summon revenue-generating agencies, conduct audits, and sanction defaulters.
Scrapping State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) and vesting powers to conduct local government elections in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Ensuring consistency, enhancing credibility, and promoting national unity in electoral processes through INEC’s expertise and resources.
NECSN believes these reforms will ensure transparency, accountability, and efficiency in revenue mobilisation and allocation, curb systemic leakages and revenue evasion, guarantee fiscal federalism, empower RMAFC to lead the drive toward non-oil revenue growth and economic diversification, and improve data-driven decision-making.
The Senate Committee on Constitutional Review is currently reviewing contributions from citizens and stakeholders across the country, with the goal of drafting a more inclusive and responsive constitution.