…..As NULGE leadership urges both Federal And State Governments to Ceed Ministry of Agric to LGCs In Nigeria.
…..Says Only the third tiers of Government can efficiently and effectively handle Agric matters.
By Victor Bieni, Asaba
The Leadership of Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) led by its National President, Comrade Akeem Olatunji Ambali has recommended to the House of Representatives Sub-committee on constitutional amendment that the third tiers of Government should be to handle Agricultural matters in Nigeria.
The media learnt this in Asaba, Delta State during the just concluded Zonal Constitutional Review in a presentation made by the General Secretary, NULGE, Comrade .C. Aguonye stated that the activities of the Ministry of Agriculture should be relinguished from both the Federal and States Government allow the local Government take over the responsibility.
The leadership then enjoined the National Assembly to do the needful in its task on Constitutional Amendment, while cautioning that, the third tiers of Government should not be a purse for States to cash- in. The leadership noted that lands, farmers, natural resources, Agric imputs, manpower development, technical-know-hows, and and others are found in the Local Government; not in the Federal or States Government therefore that the third tiers of Government should be allowed the responsibility to take over Agric Ministry.
The leadership also faulted 1999 Nigerian Constitution to hace created room for this constitutional flaws, lacuna and imbalances in the system. According to NULGE, “We advocated for LG Police, Use of INEC for LG Council Elections, LG Autonomy, solid LG Primary Education, LG Women Ministry, adequate Funding for LGCs and others”.
NULGE Leadership said: “The initial budgets meant for both Federal and States Government should be given to the Local Government Councils in Nigeria so as to boost grassroots or rural development for socio-economic growth and development of rural areas”.
“This ugly development stifled Local Governments of its interventions in grass root development such as provision of social services to the people, provision of employment opportunities to rural dwellers so as to curb the concomitant Youth restiveness, unemployment opportunities, food shortages, promote rural development, increased food production”.
“We advocated that both the Federal and States Government should relinquish the Ministry of Agriculture to be handle by the Local Governments only. Hence, Local Governments constitute more than 71% of the land and it is at the Local Governments that the farmers also reside. It is our opinion that the Ministry of Agriculture should be ceeded to the Local Government with direct funding from the Federation account”.