European – American University confers award of professorship on Dr. Aliyu Idris.

…. Appointed as an Ambassador of peace by the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

Oru Leonard 

The European – American University, Common Wealth of Domican Republic of Panama, has confered the special assistant on technical matters to the Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Dr. Aliyu Idris, with the award of professorship in Financial Management.

The occasion, which took place on Saturday, 9th November 2024, at the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Embassy. Wuse 2 Abuja also marked his 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. He 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 therefore urged Nigerians to take pride in their nation.

In his welcome address, the northern representative of the university, Dr. Musari Audu Isyaka disclosed that the conferment was due to 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 Mrs. Juliet Nkanta to present the Certificate of the award of an Ambassador for peace by the Universal Peace Federation to Professor Aliyu Idris extolled his sterling qualities .

The Chairman of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission Dr. Muhammad Bello Shehu OFR, who was represented by the member representing Kebbi State in the Commission, Hon. Barr. Rakiya Tanko Haruna expressed joy over the awards of recognition given to Dr. Idris Aliyu.

She said, ” The feeling is quite incredible. He is an exemplary Staff. Dr, Aliyu Idris, being confered with a professorship award in Financial Management, demonstrates the quality of staff that we have in the Commission.” 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.” She added.

In his paper presentation on Fiscal Management and National Development, Professor Idris talked about the Nigerian economy in comparison to 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 can 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 informal sector to the tax net. Prof. Idris attributed the poor contribution of solid minerals revenue to lack of proper fiscal framework in the sector and poor investment. He observed that the contribution of solid minerals to the national coffers in spite of its abundance in the country is absymaly low compared to other African countries. He therefore advised the Nigeria 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 also 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. Prof. Idris cited 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

He pointed out other challenges facing the oil sector of the economy to include 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) so as to enable it mobilise revenue and monitori it efficiently. On National Development, Prof. Idris advised the government to amend the constitution to ensure that the responsibility of the Federal Government on Agriculture is 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.

Professor Aliyu Idris was born on the 25th of July 1980 at Odu – Ogboyaga, Dekina local government of Kogi State.

He attended LGEA Primary School Odu Ogboyaga from 1983 to 1988. He graduated from Ikanni Ebo Memorial College in 1998

Between the years 2000 and 2004, professor Idris attended the University of Maiduguri, where he graduated with a B.Sc degree in Accounting and Finance. Later in the year 2014 he earned a M.Sc degree in Accounting and Finance from Nassarawa State University, and in the year 2018, he 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.