Agriculture
By Anthony Isibor.
THE Northern States Governors’ Forum and the Chairmen of Northern States Traditional Council led by the Sultan of Sokoto have called on the federal government to expedite actions towards transiting from the open grazing system, which is popularly practiced in the north.
This was part of the resolutions reached at the just concluded emergency meeting organized by the forum, in collaboration with the Council, on Monday, September 27, 2021.
The emergency meeting, which was convened to address the myriad of challenges bedeviling the Northern States, discussed issues of peace, progress, development and well-being of the Northern States, and took stock of progress made in handling challenges of banditry, kidnapping, armed robbery and insurgency in the region.
At the end of the meeting, the forum released a communiqué signed by Simon Bako Lalong, Chairman, Northern States Governors’ Forum, calling on the federal government to expedite action on the National Livestock Transformation Programme as a springboard in transiting from the open grazing system as widely practiced in the North.
Similarly, the forum reviewed security updates from the region and observed the need for a sustained synergy and coordinated efforts between the federal government and Northern States Governments while noting the success of recent measures and expressed concern on the constraint of the security services.
It urged the Armed Forces to embark on simultaneous operations and resolve to share the plans of the frontline states and other regions and assured of its readiness to work in synergy with the federal government in finding a lasting solution to the current security challenges.
“The Forum appreciated the ongoing onslaught against banditry, kidnapping and Boko Haram, especially in the North East and parts of North West and North Central States and encouraged the armed forces and other security agencies to sustain the tempo to enable the security challenges be permanently addressed in the shortest time.
“The Traditional Rulers Councils appreciated the efforts made so far by the NSGF in addressing the key areas of challenges facing the Northern States, they expressed their willingness, solidarity and collaboration with the governors’ in addressing these challenges, particularly the issue of security. It was equally resolved that perpetrators of crimes should be dealt with irrespective of their status in the society.”
In addition, the Forum also said that it “Received updates on the Renewable/Solar Energy Project and noted that request for land for the project had been submitted and are being processed by the Northern States. The Committee had commenced negotiations in a public-private arrangement and sovereign guarantees to ensure bankability of the project by multilateral financial organizations. The Forum called on States yet to process the request for allocation of land for the project to expedite action.
“The meeting received updates on activities of some Committees constituted by the Northern States Governors’ Forum and noted that recommendations contained therein are being considered with a view to coming up with implementation strategies.
The forum also considered the ongoing national debate on the collection of Value Added Tax, VAT, as sub judice, and stated that until and unless the Supreme Court pronounces judgment on the substantive matter between Rivers State and Federal Government, the matter is sub judice and the Northern States Governors Forum would respect this.:
It decried the high level of conspiracies being perpetrated by some judicial officers in releasing/granting bail to arrested criminals. As this attitude sabotages the fight against criminality, it harped on the need to develop good and robust intelligence mechanisms amongst states as a panacea and called on agencies to leave up to their responsibility.
“The Forum noted the ugly trend in the spread of drugs and consumption amongst the teeming youth and therefore, calls on all levels of governments and communities to rise to the occasion by stemming the tide.
“Traditional rulers are to equally mobilise their various communities in checkmating the ugly trend of criminality in their domains.
Although the forum acknowledged the views of some Northern States Governors on power-shift to three Geo-Political Zones in the South with a view to promoting unity and peace in the nation, it unanimously condemned the statement by the Southern Governors Forum that the Presidency must go to the South.
“The statement is quite contradictory with the provision of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999) as amended that the elected President shall:-
“Score the majority votes; score at least 25% of the votes cast in 2/3 States of the Federation.
“In the case of run-up simple majority win the election,” it added.
– Sept. 29, 2021 @ 10:32 GMT |
A.I
Tags: open grazing system Simon Bako Lalong
