The Growth Enhancement scheme (GES) – the nerve centre of the on-going agricultural revolution in Nigeria received further accolade today as National Assembly vows to sustain its operation through a law to institutionalize the process.
Addressing a large crowd which included the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote, and the Directors and Value Chain leaders in Ministry of Agriculture during its oversight shuttle, the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture, Mr. Mohammed Tahir Munguno said “The GES Scheme is perhaps one National Policy in Nigeria everybody has hailed and called for its sustenance. We have transverse the length and breadth of this Nation, the request has been for us to make GES permanent through an enabling law. That we must do, Honourable Minister” Munguno said
The Chairman who led his Committee members on oversight visit wondered how the Ministry was able to achieve much with only 35% of its 2013 Capital budget released it.
Nearly every member of the Committee who contributed to the discussion Commended the brilliant way GES was being implemented noting with fertilizer and other input reaching the door step of farmers, the coast is clear to ensure that no succeeding administration tampers with this policy.
The Committee members, who were availed figures on the Ministry’s finances till date, praised the Ministry on its prompt remittance of internally generated revenue.
In his response, the Minister Adesina showed admiration to the members whose cooperation and advice he acknowledged, had the deepened the internationalization of the GES.
He lamented the challenges of inadequate fiscal provision had posed to mirade of policies of the Ministry and stated that with frugal management of available resources, the Ministry had worked transparency to justify the confidence reposed on it by the President.
Adesina appreciated that government budget would never be enough to implement all projects hence the insistence that private sector intervention which has advanced significantly the progress the nation had made in this sector.
The Agric Minister hailed the creation of a Committee on Research Institution and Colleges of Agriculture by the National Assembly pointing up that the decision would propel the Institutes to concentrate on their core mandate.
The Permanent Secretary Mrs. Ibukun Odusote in her welcome address earlier espoused the vision of the transformation strategy to include, achieving a hunger free Nigeria through an agricultural sector that will drive income growth, accelerate achievement of food and nutritional security, generates employment and transform Nigeria into a global food markets and wealth for millions farmers.
Mrs. Odusote told the law makers that their support to the sector had been the catalyst that yielded the results the nation is witnessing and assured them that with their continued support, Nigeria will achieve her dream of a major exporter farm produce worldwide.
Greyne Anosike
Acting Director
For Information Public Relation
