Kwara Govt , Agriculture Ministry Strengthen Synergy To Achieve Food Sufficiency

The Kwara State Government has reiterated its commitment to strong collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) to achieve food sufficiency in the country.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Muritala Olarewaju stated this at a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mua’zu Abdulkadir and his entourage at the Ministry’s Conference room in Ilorin.

Oba Azeez Bolaji, Press Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development in a statement quoted Olarewaju, who commended the Federal Government’s various intervention programmes in the state through FMARD, called for more synergy between the two Ministries towards achieving food security in the state and the country at large.

The Commissioner appreciated FMARD for its interventions in the construction of Primary Animal Health Centre at Adewole in Ilorin, formation of Gidan Magajiya Grazing Reserve in Baruten and building of resting point and Labour line in Moro Local Government Area,among others.

He appealed to the visiting Permanent Secretary to assist in facilitating the completion of the projects for onward release to the State Government.

The Fish Processing Centre at Jebba in Moro Local Government, Olarewaju noted, was completed in 2011 but yet to be handed over to the Ministry for the purpose it was built.

He, however, used the opportunity of the visit to request for a formal handing over of the Centre to the State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development for effective usage.

Responding, the Permanent Secretary, FMARD, Dr. Mua’zu Abdulkadir commended the State Government under the leadership of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for the rapid development experienced in the state, promising to assist the state to achieve its desire for food security in the state.

Dr. Abdulkadir assured that the Primary Animal Health Care Centre would soon be completed and handed over to the state, adding that the Fish Processing Centre would also be vigorously pursued to ensure its prompt release to the State Government as well.

He enjoined the State Government to ensure adequate funding of the State Agricultural Development Project (KWADP) in view of its importance in food safety and security of the Nation.

YUSUF GANIYU ADEBISI
Ministry for Agriculture and Rural Development

However, the State Government has re-echoed the independence of all Local Government Councils in the running of their affairs without interference from any quarters.

The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development, Arc. Aliyu Mohammad Saifuddeen (FNIA) emphasized this while featuring on a live programme tagged “GOOD MORNING KWARANS” at the Kwara Television Service during the weekend.

Arc. Saifuddeen said as the Commissioner saddled with the cabinet responsibility of supervising and monitoring the activities of the Third Tier of Government, he can emphatically say that since the inception of the present administration in the State, no single kobo of the Local Government’s money was missing or diverted by anyone.

The Commissioner described his Ministry as a bridge between the State Government and the Third Tier of Government with a clearly defined supervisory and monitoring of the day-to-day smooth running of the Council Areas.

While making further clarification on the allocation accrued to the Councils from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), Arc. Saifudeen disclosed that only officials of the Ministry of Finance were recognised to attend FAAC meetings.

He stated further that the officials will only avail him of the paper distribution of allocations to each Council Area, pointing out that it is the responsibility of FAAC to credit each Local Government account directly in accordance with Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit guidelines.

According to the Commissioner, upon the completion of FAAC meeting, the Local Government Allocation meeting would be convened which comprised all Directors of Personnel Management and Local Government Treasurers as statutory members, with officials of the State Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Community Development as observers.

Meanwhile, officials of the Local Government Service Commission, SUBEB and Labour Unions attend the meeting to deliberate on payment of first line charges such as Salaries of Local Government workers, SUBEB Teachers, Pension payments and as well as provision of N100 Million Naira monthly for gratuity payment, among others.

On Chieftaincy matters, Arc. Aliyu said the recent presentation of Letters of Appointment to Six (6) newly appointed Traditional Rulers was as a result of vacant stools, adding that other vacant stools would be filled in earnest.

 

By Grace Tunji