Nigerian house of Representatives is making a move to establish 5,000 direct and indirect jobs with the establishment of farm settlements across the country.
According to the Green Chambers, it is also seeking to raise funding from 10-20 percent for Agriculture from the Ecological Fund. The bill will also seek the establishment in the federal constituenciesin the whole of the 36 states including FCT.
Its Committee on Agricultural Services has also begun additional legislative work on a bill “for an Act to Amend the National Agricultural Land Development Authority Act, 2004 to Increase its Membership and Functions for Strategic Operations and Interests and to Vest in the Authority Powers to Establish Farm Settlements across the Country for the Purposes of Attaining Food Sufficiency and to Establish the National Farm Settlement and Youth Empowerment Agency to create a Mechanised System of Farming”.
The bill has passed the second reading on November 1, 2017 with Members backing the bill saying it aligns with the current focus of the federal government to diversify the economy and create jobs for an estimated five thousand unemployed youths.
Oboro said the element of lack of standardisation of food exports would also be taken care of.
Speaking with reporters she said: “We have been talking about diversifying the economy of our great nation and agriculture is the main area we are looking at.
“The funding of the agency is just 10 percent of the Ecological Funds. We are asking that it be moved up to 20 percent. It has nothing to do with the Federal Government budget.
“Not only that, we’re also asking for farm settlements in different constituencies across the country as well as a law backing the establishment of farm settlements where large and medium up-takers can do business with female and young farmers, will go a long way in stemming the rural-urban drift as well as reduce poverty in low income communities.”