The Chairman, Senate Committee on Agricultural Production, Services and Rural Development, Senator Saliu Mustapha has advocated in Nigeria’s budget for increased allocation to propel the agricultural sector towards economic prosperity.
In his welcome address at the Joint 2024 Budget Defence session, Senator Mustapha, who is also the Turaki of Ilorin, emphasized the critical role of the agricultural sector in Nigeria’s economic landscape
Addressing the audience comprising of Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, government officials, and media representatives, Senator Mustapha ‘set the tone’ for the session by acknowledging the commitment of both Chambers of the 10th National Assembly to collaborate in passing the 2024 Budget within the stipulated timeframe.
The Lawmaker who is representing Kwara Central Senatorial District under the ruling party, All Progressives Congress APC at the National Assembly, commended the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Executive for their dedication to reinstating the January to December Budget cycle.
This strategic move, he noted, would facilitate “the timely execution of physical infrastructure projects and socio-economic services, benefitting both the public and private sectors.”
Expressing concern over the challenges faced by the agricultural sector, Senator Mustapha “highlighted its pivotal role as the largest contributor to the nation’s GDP” from the non-oil sector, accounting for over 20%.
However, he noted that the budget allocation to the sector falls short of the 10% benchmark set by the Maputo Declaration, to which Nigeria is committed.
Senator Mustapha passionately asserted that the agricultural sector holds immense potential to uplift millions of Nigerians from “poverty and ensure food security.”
In light of this, he urged the Executive to demonstrate the necessary political will by allocating a minimum of 10% of the national budget and revenues to the agricultural sector.
Senator Mustapha assured the audience of the Committee’s unwavering commitment to treating the budget defence process with the urgency and responsibility it deserves.
It is observed that as the nation anticipates an engaging dialogue, the call for prioritizing the agricultural sector in economic policies and future budgets resonates as a vital step towards sustainable development.
Shakirat Sadiq
Comments are closed.