The Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, has stressed
\nthe importance of enacting new legislation to aid the drive to modernise
\nagriculture and turn the sector into a major foreign exchange earner for
\nthe country in the nearest future.<\/p>\n
Speaker Dogara, who said this while delivering an address at the two-day
\npublic hearing organised by the House Committee on Agricultural Colleges
\nand Institutions, also stressed the need to ensure bills processed by the
\nlegislature are cost-sensitive and do not increase the financial burden of
\nthe nation through the multiplication of agencies.<\/p>\n
The proliferation of agencies, according to the Speaker, is not conducive
\nto the economic well-being of the nation as a new agency \u201ccomes with its
\ncomplement of bureaucracy entailing a Chief Executive, A Board of
\nDirectors, complement of staff, Many Directors to man different
\ndepartments, office buildings, vehicles, overhead and capital costs and
\nall the other paraphernalia of a government agency.\u201d<\/p>\n
Instead, he advocated for the amendment of the functions and mandate of
\nexisting agencies, where possible. Furthermore, \u201cin cases where there is
\nneed to reinvigorate a particular sector and lay emphasis\u201d, he said \u201cit
\nmay become necessary to carve out an agency from an existing one.\u201d<\/p>\n
He spoke on the need for up to date legislation in order to further
\ndevelop the agricultural sector.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is very gratifying to note that giant strides are being made in the
\nsector\u201d, he said. \u201cUp to date legislation is required to aid the drive to
\nmodernize agricultural practices, drive economic diversification, achieve
\nfood self-sufficiency, and ultimately turn agriculture into a major
\nforeign exchange earner in the nearest future\u201d the Speaker concluded.<\/p>\n
The bills being considered by the committee are as follows: A Bill for an
\nAct to Regulate the Profession of Agriculture and to make provision for
\nthe Establishment, Functions and Administration of Nigerian Institute of
\nAgriculturists and for Other Related Matters (HB.838)\u2019, \u2018A Bill for Act to
\nRepeal the Veterinary Surgeons Act. Cap. V3, Laws of the Federation of
\nNigeria, 2004 and for Other Related Matters (HB. 836)\u2019, A Bill for Act to
\nAmend the Nigerian Research Institutes Act Cap. N132, Laws of the
\nFederation of Nigeria, 2004 to Include the Establishment of the Shea
\nButter Research Institute: and for Other Related Matters. (HB. 1271).<\/p>\n
The Speaker enjoined the committee to ensure the bills are in accordance
\nwith legal, regulatory and economic goals set out for the agricultural
\nsector through appropriate scrutiny.<\/p>\n
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":53375,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-62081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n