Senate Committee Chair on Agriculture and Rural Development, Salihu Mustapha, has canvassed for constitutional amendment to reassign agriculture as the core responsibilities of local government areas (LGAs)in the country.
Senator Mustapha’s position underscores the vital role the agric sector could play in revolutionising the country’s economic development.
The Senator, who is representing Kwara Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, also advocated for a refocus of the priority of the LGs to agricultural development.
The lawmaker made the proposition in Ilorin, Kwara at an event organised by the Correspondent Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara state chapter. Represented by an aide, who is a lawyer, Abdulkareem Alabi, Senator Mustapha, stressed that agriculture should no longer be viewed as a secondary issue or left solely to private enterprise. Instead, he urged for a nationwide strategy where local governments are constitutionally mandated to focus on agriculture as their primary function.
“Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and it holds the key to addressing unemployment, food insecurity, and rural developments,” Senator Mustapha stated.
“For too long, our local governments have been distracted by peripheral responsibilities. It is time we refocus their energies on what really matters – agriculture and rural developments,” he added.
He argued that LGAs, being closer to the grassroots, are in a prime position to facilitate agricultural development and rural transformation, both of which are crucial for food security and economic growth.
According to Senator Mustapha, Nigeria’s reliance on oil revenues has not only left the country vulnerable to global market fluctuations but also stunted the growth of its agricultural sector which remains the largest employer of labour in the country. By institutionalising agriculture as the central focus of LGAs, the senator believes Nigeria can unlock vast economic potentials, improve livelihoods, and ensure sustainable development.