Nigeria and Economic Recession: Way out (Revival of Agriculture) (4)

By Afe Babalola
“Yet the structure of Nigeria and its climatic structure varying from rain forest, tropical grassland, savannah to shrubs makes it difficult for government at the centre to formulate policies geared towards affecting farmers across nation” LAST week I stated how over reliance on oil revenue by successive Nigerian governments had contributed to the current economic crisis in the country. I highlighted how Nigeria had failed to prepare adequately for the slump in the price of crude oil despite the fact that similar slumps had occurred in the past and how despite the warning signs, the country had undertaken measures such as creation of more states all of which have contributed to the present state of the economy.

More importantly, I related the early promise of agriculture to the economy of Nigeria and how the neglect of that all important sector is still affecting the country. Therefore as promised, I will this week focus on steps that can be taken to ensure the revival of the agicultural sector. Make states the focal point of agricultural policies To begin with, it is important to note that government over the years have indeed tried to focus on agriculture with varying degrees of success. The first of such efforts that comes to mind was tagged “Operation Feed the Nation “introduced by the military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo in 1976 by which the government sought to increase local food production and decrease food import. Nigerians were encouraged to cultivate land for farming. The government of Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, also made the revival of agriculture an important part of its developmental policies. That government particularly focused on making fertilizer available to the rural farmers. The point that is worthy of note here is that most of these efforts geared towards the revival of agriculture seem to have been undertaken by the federal government with little or no contribution in form of policy formulation on the part of the state governments. Is agriculture exclusive to the Federal Government? However, an examination of the items contained in the exclusive legislative list under the second Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 reveals that agriculture is not on the said list. The closest to it is contained in item 62 paragraphs (b) and (c) which empowers the National Assembly to make laws in respect of trade and commerce and in particular the following: (b) establishment of a purchasing authority with power to acquire for export or sale in world markets such agricultural produce as maybe designated by the National Assembly; (c) Inspection of produce to be exported from Nigeria and the enforcement of grades and standards of quality in respect of produce so inspected; All that the above stipulates is that the government at the center can make laws on matters relating to export or sale of agricultural produce. The effect of this is that legislation on agriculture or formulation of policies in that regard is not exclusive to the federal government. The concurrent legislative list is contained in Part II of the Second Schedule. The position of the said list relating to agriculture are contained in items 17(b), 18, 19 and 20. For the avoidance of doubt they provide as follows: … 17(b) the regulation of ownership and control of business enterprises throughout the Federation for the purpose of promoting, encouraging or facilitating such ownership and control by citizens of Nigeria; …18. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a House of Assembly may make Laws for that State with respect to industrial, commercial or agricultural development of the State. Nothing in the foregoing paragraphs of this item shall be construed as precluding a House of Assembly from making Laws with respect to any of the matters referred to in the foregoing paragraphs. It is my view that the provisions of 17(b) in particular relate only to the ownership and control of research centres and institutions and bodies for the promotion and financing of industrial, commercial or agricultural. Based on the above, I am of the view that agriculture should be left entirely to the states. This will enable states and local government to take into consideration the conditions peculiar to them in formulating agricultural policies. Agricultural policies Whilst I am aware that in most, if not all states, there is always a Ministry of Agriculture most of the state ministries of agriculture often exist only to implement policies put in the place by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture. There is very little or nothing coming from the states in terms of policy formulation. “Yet the structure of Nigeria and its climatic structure varying from rain forest, tropical grassland, savannah to shrubs makes it difficult for government at the centre to formulate policies geared towards affecting farmers across nation” Across state lines and the numerous bureaucratic set ups how easy is it for the Federal Government in Abuja to accurately gauge the needs of most farmers? This is why I am of the view that the first step towards reviving agriculture is to get the states and local government more involved in the formulation and implementation of policies. I acknowledge numerous comments from readers some of which will be published later.

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