The rumour going round about
merger of Federal Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources by President
Buhari is already attracting mix feelings as many stakeholders have expressed
concern saying the marriage will bring set back to both sectors in terms of programme they have
already set out differently.
This merger rumour is coming on
the recommendation of Oransanye public service reform’s report which is likely
to be affected by the present administration as a measure to curb government
spending and running expenses.
The administration of Prsident
Buhari may be opted to reducing the Federal Ministries from 42 to 19 as many of
the related agencies have been suggested for merger by the Oransanye public
service report in order to reduce the cost of operating government affairs
towards achieving a better governance at the most effective cost.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural
Development (FMARD) and the Ministry of Water Resources have been listed to be
merged together, which is already attracting lots of mix feelings from the
citizens.
Food
Farm News’s Investigation
among the staffs of the both ministries revealed that many of the them are not
favourable disposed to the idea especially those from the ministry of water
resources who complained about an overcrowded attitude of the other FMARD, just
as some have a contrary view by welcoming the development pointed that the
merger will help to boost the production of fresh agricultural produce through
farmers that engage in mechanized irrigation farming.
Those in support of the merger
also believed that the marriage will help in the increase demand for irrigation
water by farmers saying that the creation of more dams will enrich dry season
farming towards increased food production for commercialization and food
security.
On the contrary, many others
believed that merging of the two ministries is not a proactive idea as they
argued it will slow down actions and also bring about unhealthy competition
among the two ministries stressing the union will encourage corruption with example
of incidence in 2001-2006.
A staff of water resources that
declined his name said that a lot of controversy and corrupt practices were
experienced during the administration of Adamu Bello as the minister of
ministry of Agriculture and head of consolidated ministry of agriculture and
water resources between 2001-2006.
Again it is believed that the
problem of domination might arise among the two ministries especially on irrigation
farming as a source told us that a project worth billions of Naira was
transferred to FMARD through the overcrowded effort of the former minister of
agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina thereby sidelining the main ministry with
the expertise knowledge and mandate on water engineering.
However the Deputy Speaker of
the House of Representative Yusuf Suleiman Lasun, has warned the Federal
Government against merging Water Resources ministry with other agencies. He
said despite the abundant water in the country, we still cannot boost of
drinkable water for a sizeable number of populace.
Suleiman Lasun further warned against the
merging of the water ministry with the FMARD as he opined that the both
ministries were important for the development of the country saying “we have
not succeeded in resolving the problems of water not to talk of merging water
with agriculture”.
During
the era of late President Musa Yar’ Adua, the two ministries was merged under
the leadership of Dr. Abba Ruma but immediately de-merged after his demise as
many believed the unity of the two might not really bring efficiency and
effectiveness due to the enormous responsibility of the two ministries.
The
workers of the ministry of the water resource told food farm news that his staff were happy when the separation
announcement was made by the government of President Goodluck Jonathan sometime
2008 saying the FMARD is already over shadowing them out of their
responsibility until the pronouncement of the separation.
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