In line with his “Back-to-farm” initiative, the governor of Akwa Ibom state, Pastor Umo Eno has declared the first and third Fridays of every month as official “farm days,” starting May 3rd, 2024.
The governor made this announcement yesterday during a Workers’ Day address at the Uyo Township Stadium.
This builds on his previous calls for citizens to embrace agriculture, even at a subsistence level, as a way to manage the current economic hardship in the country.
Governor Eno stressed that the economic hardship and food shortages currently faced in the state were worsened by the neglect of agriculture.
He said that his administration, however, plans to reduce the economic burden on citizens through the establishment of a Bulk Purchase Agency as a short-term measure.
He urged all citizens to embrace agriculture, as this would guarantee a sustainable solution to the challenge of food shortage.
He announced a mandatory “Back-to-Farm Initiative” with two designated “farm days” each month for civil servants.
This initiative aims to ensure everyone has the opportunity to cultivate essential food items like vegetables, garri, fufu, and corn, promoting self-sufficiency within the state.
Pastor Eno emphasized that the current hardship, which is worsened by neglect of agriculture, has led to food shortages.
To address this, Akwa Ibom, under his leadership plans to establish a Bulk Purchase Agency as a short-term measure.
Additionally, the governor stressed the importance of every citizen committing to farming.
He explained that the decision to designate two farm days was to ensure that every civil servant in the state owns their own farm or farms, providing them with basic food items such as vegetables, garri, fufu, maize, and other staples.
The governor further disclosed the allocation of an additional N2 billion Naira to settle the gratuities of retired civil servants in the state.
He presented brand new vehicles to the chairmen of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) in the state to facilitate their operations.
Pastor Eno also shared that his administration intends to recruit medical personnel into the State Civil Service.
In his remarks, the head of the Akwa Ibom state labour union, Comrade Sunny James, commended Governor Eno for his kindness and focus on the people’s well-being. He thanked the governor for his commitment to using state funds for the benefit of citizens by ensuring the timely payment of worker salaries.
James criticized the practice of major petroleum distributors hoarding products to sell to independent marketers at higher prices. He argued that this practice leads to a continuous increase in fuel prices, causing severe hardship for residents of the state.
He urged the state government to consider reviving non-functional industries like the Ibom Power Company, Aluminium Smelter Company, and others in Ikot Abasi. He suggested this would create jobs for the state’s youth, among other benefits.
