Senator Saliu Mustapha, representing Kwara Central, has called for a constitutional amendment to prioritize agricultural development at the local government level.
He emphasized the sector’s vital role in addressing unemployment, food insecurity, and rural development.
The senator explained: “Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and it holds the key to addressing unemployment, food insecurity, and rural development. 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.”
Mustapha, chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development, argued that local governments are best positioned to facilitate agricultural development and rural transformation, crucial for food security and economic growth.
He noted that Nigeria’s reliance on oil revenues has stunted the growth of its agricultural sector, the largest employer of labor in the country.
The senator’s aide, Barr. Abdulkareem Alabi, represented him at the 2024 Press Week of the Correspondents Chapel of the Kwara State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ).