FAAC disbursements increased by 32% to N8.5 trillion in 2018 ― NEITI

THE Federation Allocation Account Committee (FAAC) disbursed N8.5 trillion to the three tiers of government and others, the first time since 2014, that disbursements would exceed N2 trillion in three consecutive quarters, the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) announced in its latest report.

The total of N8.52 trillion shared among the three tiers of government in 2018 represents a 32.8% increase when compared to N6.418 trillion disbursed in 2017 and 67.1% higher than N5.1 trillion shared in 2016.

A further breakdown of the FAAC disbursements showed that the Federal Government received N3.483 trillion in 2018 representing 41% while the 36 States received the sum of N2.85 trillion, representing 33.4% and the 774 local governments got N1.667 trillion, representing 19.6%.

The NEITI publication observed that government revenues have continued to be on the increase since 2017, adding that the rebound in Federation revenue continued as a result of increases in both oil and non-oil revenue.

A quarterly breakdown of disbursements in 2018 showed a steady increase in the amount disbursed throughout the year. For instance, in the first quarter of the year, FAAC shared N1.938 trillion, while N2.008 trillion was disbursed in the second quarter. Disbursements in the third and fourth quarters were N2.278 trillion and N2.299 trillion respectively.

According to the report, there were three consecutive quarters in 2018 when total disbursements exceeded N2 trillion, the last time this happened was in the third quarter of 2014.

“With the exception of the third quarter of 2017, the N2.299 trillion disbursed in the fourth quarter of 2018 was the highest quarterly disbursement since the second quarter of 2014,” It added.

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On the states’ share of the FAAC disbursements, the review disclosed that five states received higher than N100 billion each in 2018. The States were Lagos (N119 billion), Bayelsa (N153.1 billion), Rivers   (N172.6 billion), Akwa Ibom (N202.4 billion), Delta (N213.6 billion).

The NEITI publication further disclosed that twenty-three states received less than N60 billion each as total FAAC receipts in 2018. A break down shows that Cross River, Ekiti and Ogun states received N37 billion, N39.3 billion and N39.6 billion respectively.

Eight states namely: Zamfara, Gombe, Plateau, Kwara, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Taraba, and Adamawa, received between N40 billion and N49.9 billion.

Twelve states received between N50 billion and N59.9 billion: Yobe, Enugu, Kogi, Bauchi, Imo, Sokoto, Kebbi, Anambra, Abia, Benue, Niger and Oyo. In addition, six states (Jigawa, Katsina, Borno, Ondo, Kaduna and Edo) received between N60 billion and N69.9 billion. It further disclosed that Kano State received a total of N84.2 billion in 2018.

A close look at the disbursements to states indicated a wide disparity, with Osun State receiving the lowest net allocation of N22.8billion while Delta State received the highest net allocation of N213.6 billion, ‘‘meaning net disbursement to Delta State was 935% of Osun State’s,” the NEITI review added.

The NEITI publication, however, noted with concern that despite the upward trajectory in FAAC disbursements to the three tiers of government, the disbursements were inadequate to meet states’ budgetary requirements.

On internally generated revenues (IGR), the NEITI review further remarked that it was highly unlikely that IGR would be able to make up for the shortfall in FAAC disbursements to states.

From the review, only four states (Cross River, Lagos, Ogun and Rivers) had estimated IGR that was more than 50% of their FAAC allocations. Out of these states, only Lagos and Ogun had IGR that was actually higher than their FAAC allocations.

The NEITI review further revealed that estimated IGR in six states (Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Osun, Oyo) was more than 40% of their FAAC allocations. The review noted that for these ten states listed, there is a probability that actual IGR may be sufficient to address the budgetary gaps in FAAC disbursements.

On revenue projection in 2019, NEITI Quarterly Review predicted an upward trend in revenue receipts into the government coffers from the oil and gas sector as well as the attendant increases in FAAC disbursements.

“FAAC disbursements will increase further in 2019. This is largely due to an expected increase in Nigeria’s oil production and further consolidation of efforts by OPEC to keep oil prices from falling,” the NEITI publication stated.