National Assembly moves to legislate on growth enhancement scheme

[The InfoStrides]

The Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES) which is the nerve centre of the on-going agricultural revolution in Nigeria has on Monday October 14, 2013 been acclaimed by the National Assembly with a promise to sustain its operation through a legal process.

While addressing a gathering including the Minister of Agriculture - Akinwumi Adesina; the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry - Ibukun Odusote; Directors as well as Value- Chain leaders in the Ministry of Agriculture during its oversight function, the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Mohammed Tahir Munguno averred that GES as a National Policy in Nigeria has been commended by people who are also calling for its sustenance.

"We have transversed the length and breadth of this nation and the request has been for us to make GES permanent through an enabling law. That we must do," Munguno said.

He expressed surprise with the means whereby the Ministry was able to achieve greatly with only 35% of its 2013 capital budget released to it. Members of the Committee who spoke at the occasion, commended the brilliant way by which GES was being implemented, noting that 'with fertilizer and other inputs reaching the door steps of farmers, the coast is clear towards ensuring that no succeeding administration tampers with the policy.'

The Committee members who were also availed with up- to- date figures on the Ministry's finances praised the Ministry for its prompt remittance of internally generated revenue.

In his response, Akinwumi Adesina gave his high regard to the members whose cooperation and advice, he acknowledged has deepened the globalisation process of GES. He however, lamented the challenges from inadequate fiscal provision to many policies of the Ministry; saying with careful management of available resources, the Ministry has implored transparency to justify the confidence reposed on it by the President.

Adesina reiterated that Government budget alone would never be enough to implement all projects, except with private sector intervention which has made possible the current progress attained in the Agric sector. He applauded the creation of the 'Committee on Research Institution and Colleges of Agriculture' by the National Assembly, pointing out that the decision would demand the institutes to concentrate on their core mandates.

Speaking earlier in her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ibukun Odusote noted the vision of the transformation strategy to include: achieving a hunger -free Nigeria through the agricultural sector that  drives income growth; accelerating the achievement of food and nutritional security; generating employment and transforming Nigeria into a global food market and wealth for millions of farmers.

She also informed the law makers that their support to the sector has yielded the results which the nation is witnessing and assured them that with their continued support, Nigeria will achieve her dream of becoming a major exporter of farm produce to the world in general. 



Source: National Assembly moves to legislate on growth enhancement scheme

[Folami David]

Growth would always be important in whatever we do in this country.
This is good