River Basins Key to Food Security in Nigeria – Isa

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.