The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has stressed
the importance of enacting new legislation to aid the drive to modernise
agriculture and turn the sector into a major foreign exchange earner for
the country in the nearest future.
Speaker Dogara, who said this while delivering an address at the two-day
public hearing organised by the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges
and Institutions, also stressed the need to ensure bills processed by the
legislature are cost-sensitive and do not increase the financial burden of
the nation through the multiplication of agencies.
The proliferation of agencies, according to the Speaker, is not conducive
to the economic well-being of the nation as a new agency “comes with its
complement of bureaucracy entailing a Chief Executive, A Board of
Directors, complement of staff, Many Directors to man different
departments, office buildings, vehicles, overhead and capital costs and
all the other paraphernalia of a government agency.”
Instead, he advocated for the amendment of the functions and mandate of
existing agencies, where possible. Furthermore, “in cases where there is
need to reinvigorate a particular sector and lay emphasis”, he said “it
may become necessary to carve out an agency from an existing one.”
He spoke on the need for up to date legislation in order to further
develop the agricultural sector.
“It is very gratifying to note that giant strides are being made in the
sector”, he said. “Up to date legislation is required to aid the drive to
modernize agricultural practices, drive economic diversification, achieve
food self-sufficiency, and ultimately turn agriculture into a major
foreign exchange earner in the nearest future” the Speaker concluded.
The bills being considered by the committee are as follows: A Bill for an
Act to Regulate the Profession of Agriculture and to make provision for
the Establishment, Functions and Administration of Nigerian Institute of
Agriculturists and for Other Related Matters (HB.838)’, ‘A Bill for Act to
Repeal the Veterinary Surgeons Act. Cap. V3, Laws of the Federation of
Nigeria, 2004 and for Other Related Matters (HB. 836)’, A Bill for Act to
Amend the Nigerian Research Institutes Act Cap. N132, Laws of the
Federation of Nigeria, 2004 to Include the Establishment of the Shea
Butter Research Institute: and for Other Related Matters. (HB. 1271).
The Speaker enjoined the committee to ensure the bills are in accordance
with legal, regulatory and economic goals set out for the agricultural
sector through appropriate scrutiny.