The European-American University, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic of Panama, has conferred a professorship in Financial Management award on the special assistant on technical matters to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Aliyu Idris.
The conferment held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Embassy, Wuse 2 in Abuja during Dr Idris’s induction as an Ambassador for peace by the organisation
The Chairman of the occasion, Professor Paul Baro, who is also a retired general of the Nigerian army, congratulated all the awardees and encouraged them to continue their selfless service to humanity.
Baro described a typical Nigerian as a person who is selfless and dedicated to the wellbeing of his neighbour, while recalling the remarkable role that Nigeria played to gain independence for several African nations as well as to restore peace in many others.
He urged Nigerians to take pride in their nation by taking interest in selfless service ventures.
In his welcome address, the northern representative of the university, Dr. Musari Audu Isyaka said the conferment was as a result of the exemplary achievements, dedication, commitment to excellence in his field and outstanding contribution to the development of countless individuals by the recipient.
Also speaking, the president of UPF, Rev Imo Nkanta who was assisted by his wife, Juliet, to present the Certificate of the award to Professor Aliyu Idris, extolled his sterling qualities.
The Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Muhammad Bello Shehu, who was represented by the member representing Kebbi State in the Commission, Rakiya Tanko Haruna expressed joy over the recognition to Dr. Idris Aliyu.
“The feeling is quite incredible. Dr, Aliyu Idris is an exemplary Staff. The conferment of a professorship award in Financial Management demonstrates the quality of staff that we have in the Commission,” Shehu said.
“I have watched him work on several occasions. He delivers. So I’m really happy and I think he deserves these professorship and Ambassador of peace awards,” he added.
In his paper presentation on Fiscal Management and National Development, Professor Idris compared the Nigerian economy with the economies of other emerging nations in Africa and advanced countries.
The paper focused on domestic revenue mobilisation, equitable allocation of resources, debt management and control, public spending and national development.
The paper also discussed how revenue could be pooled together into the federation account, equitably allocated to the three tiers of government and distributed to the various sectors of the economy for national development.
Professor Idris noted the improvement in the non-oil sector from taxes, though not yet there, but advised for the fiscal framework to create more incentives to bring the informal sector to the tax net.
Prof. Idris who described the attributed the contribution of solid minerals sector to the Federal revenue abysmal, attributed it to lack of proper fiscal framework in the sector and poor investment.
He said in spite of its abundance in the country the contribution of solid minerals to the national coffers was low compared to other African countries.
He advised the Federal government to take the fiscal framework in this sector very seriously and create funding for exploration and ready data for acquisition to attract foreign investors to the sector.
The Professor emphasised the need to harness its potentials to get Nigeria out of low revenue crises.
He identified low revenue from the oil sector to the Federation account in post-PIA implementation and advised the National Assembly to revisit the fiscal framework in the PIA for improvement.
Citing the low production in Nigeria oil sector compared to other oil producing countries as one of the major challenges accountable for the low revenue contributions to the Federation Account, Professor Idris said other challenges facing the oil sector of the economy included insecurity, corruption, and high operational cost.
He supported the decision of the Federal government on harmonization of revenue collection and called for the need to properly fund the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) to enable it mobilise revenue and monitor it efficiently.
On National Development, Prof. Idris advised the government to amend the constitution to ensure the responsibility of the Federal Government on Agriculture was given to the Local Government under Residual legislative list where farming is taking place and create the database for the farmers at the local government level for proper utilisation of the resources and intervention to enable the country boast of food security while the Federal Government could retain only the regulatory roles.
Aliyu Idris: A Profile
Born on the 25th of July 1980 at Odu – Ogboyaga, Dekina local government of Kogi State, Professor Idris attended LGEA Primary School Odu Ogboyaga from 1983 to 1988. He graduated from Ikanni Ebo Memorial College in 1998
Between 2000 and 2004, Professor Idris attended the University of Maiduguri, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting and Finance.
Later in 2014, he earned a Master of Science degree in Accounting and Finance from Nassarawa State University, and in 2018 obtained a Ph.D in Accounting and Finance from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.
Professor Idris started his career with the defunct Oceanic bank, where he served in various capacities. He later joined the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission. He currently serves as the special assistant on technical matters to the Chairman of the Commission.
