River Basin Development has been identified as key to the attainment of food Security in the country. This observation was made at the All River Basins Trade Group forum, held in Ilorin, Kwara State.
Speaking at the forum, the National Chairman of the Group, Hon.
Tijani Memado Isa maintained that no country can be said to have
developed without first attaining self-sufficiency in food production;
recalling that the entity has over the years been contributing to the
overall food production in the country on a large scale.
The trade unionist urged the forum to continue to foster useful
contributions towards improving on the effectiveness and sustainability
of the River Basins operations across the country.
He also tasked the government to tackle issues of poor funding,
lack of equipment, shortage of staff, non-adherence to career
progression policy, poor welfare of workers, and irregularities in their
promotions.
Also speaking, the Representative of the Permanent Secretary, State
Ministry of Water Resources, Engineer Abubakar Orisankoko extolled the
leadership of the forum. “Our management is union-friendly and we will
continue to collaborate well, cooperate and partner with your forum on
issues bordering on staffs’ welfare and general development”.
While making his own remark, Chairman of LNRBDA, a branch of AAEUN,
Comrade Olayinka Raji, described the forum as an avenue to evaluate on
the past, access the present, and proffer ways forward for the River
Basin Development Authorities.
The enduring paradigm of developmental unionism, as adopted by the
union, Raji noted, would be upheld; while hoping that sensitive issues
like staff welfare and career progression would be looked into by the
various River Basins management across the country.
“We are committed to the welfare of our members and no matter the
travails we may endure, we are on the side of our members and victory is
certain,” he said.
In his own contribution, the National President of AAEUN, Simon
Anchaver expressed his gratitude to the forum; assuring them of his
administration’s readiness to discharge purposeful leadership.
It would be recalled that the River Basins of Nigeria, under the
ATA programme of the immediate past administration flagged-off dry
season farming operations last year and production of various crops such
as rice, maize, wheat, tomatoes, onions, and so on were successfully
carried out with the aid of irrigation practices of the River Basins.
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