Farmers Urge Federal, State Govts to Cut Cost of Governance Amid Economic Hardship

•Say Tinubu should give attention to insecurity

James Emejo in Abuja

The National Agricultural Communities Projects (NACP), yesterday, urged governments at all levels to be courageous enough to cut their cost of governance amidst the current hardship facing Nigerians.

The group said the move would demonstrate to Nigerians that the leaders share in the sufferings and sacrifices of the people.

Addressing journalists on President Bola Tinubu’s recent address on the state of the nation, particularly efforts on food security, the President, Maize Farmers Association of Nigeria (MAAN)/Lead Partner, NACP, Dr. Bello Abubakar Annur, said the perks available to public office holders were so enormous that it is difficult for the average Nigerian to understand why they suffer so much and those in leadership are unaffected.

Annur, alongside presidents of the various agricultural commodity associations, therefore, called on Tinubu to do the needful, adding that, “we expect further announcements on the measure to cut the cost of governance.”

The NACP also advised Tinubu to pay more attention to the current state of insecurity in the country, pointing out that the president had failed to address this in his pronouncements so far.

Annur said, “It is also of utmost importance to deal with the issue of insecurity because, without security, there can be no prosperity.

“If the issue of insecurity is not adequately dealt with, the implementation of these strategies could be in jeopardy.

“In reality, it is inevitable that we suffer some pain for these reforms to successfully bear the required fruits. We all want a better and brighter future for Nigeria. So, let those knowledgeable about the farmers challenges run the programme and we assure you of a positive results at the end of the programme.”

The farmers commended the president on his second State of the Nation address as the country grapples with the short-term economic hardship resulting from subsidy removal and exchange rate harmonisation.

The group said the president’s address showed leadership, responsibility, and accountability, and he demonstrated empathy as he unveiled a broad plan to ease the cost of living pains for Nigerians – and provided clarity on the palliative measures and strategies for implementation.

The NACP also hailed the president on the palliative plan to support businesses, the working class, and the most vulnerable, as well as a policy intervention to check rising inflation and ensure exchange rate stability.

The NACP however,  lamented that though the president covered most of the strategic sectors of the economy, “nothing was said about security, farmers and herders clashes, which is a critical factor in national development.”

The group said, “The President described the plan to spend the N500 billion ($652 million) package to boost the economy by easing transportation costs, boosting manufacturing, and enhancing food supply.

“It will also provide conditional grants to at least a million small businesses. To ensure affordable food prices, it is good that strategic reserves of grains will be released to households, and support for agriculture, including farmland cultivation, will be a priority.

“These plans demonstrate that the President is listening to Nigerians.

“The NACP supports the short and immediate terms efforts to ensure staple foods are available and affordable.”

The NACP, nonetheless, requested that the  planned release of 200,000 metric tonnes of grains from strategic reserves to households across the 36 states and FCT to moderate prices, should include the leadership of NACP for easy access and equitable distribution to our teeming members, who constitute the bulk of the target beneficiaries.

It also requested to be part of the distribution of 225,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer, seedlings and other inputs to farmers, in order to ensure proper targeted so as to assure productive achievement of our food security agenda.

Annur said, “As we commend the government’s courage in enacting these series of policies and measures, we call on all states and local governments to emulate the federal government and replicate similar initiatives in the their various catchment areas -especially now that federal allocations to all tiers of government have improved greatly.”

Regarding the federal government’s decision to invest in the manufacturing sector, the NACP noted that it would be pertinent to consider more enterprises as 75 enterprises mentioned would not significantly impact the economy.

Among other things, the group said, “Not many enterprises across the country have the appetite for such huge loan amounts. We also commend the efforts to kick-start sustainable economic growth and improve productivity.

“We believe that if this plan is rigorously pursued, economic growth through the real sector of the economy would be achieved and could revive Nigeria’s sluggish industrialisation and expand the GDP.

“We further wish to call attention of Mr. President on the 150,000 ha of farm land to cultivate Rice and Maize and 100,000 ha for wheat and cassava in medium and long term.

“In the short term, the federal government should mop up cassava, rice, maize and wheat for food and animal feeds, having not mentioning livestock in his speech.

“Development of existing grazing reserves and support for the cultivation of specialised pasture and feeds for livestock, in collaboration with willing state governments should also be given the required attention.

“The president should reinforce the cultivation of the priority crops and livestock by supporting widespread mechanisation and training of extension workers across the country.”