*Want President Tinubu to choose own members
To ensure professionals are appointed ministers in key areas that affect ordinary Nigerians, a coalition of commodity associations in the agriculture and security sectors have called on President Bola Tinubu to consider only sector professionals in his ministerial appointment for real sustainable national development.
They said Nigerians can only breathe easy when those who understand sectors are assigned to manage them at all levels of governance including boards and agencies.
Speaking on behalf of representatives from the members under the National Agricultural Commodities Project 2023, Muhammed Ali-Baba said for Nigeria to move to the next level in terms of security and sufficiency of food, real players and practitioners must be engaged to solve challenges and make progress.
He said “Our association consists experienced professionals with vast knowledge and expertise in the agric sector; these individuals possess first-hand insights into the problems faced by farmers as well as valuable ideas to and solutions to address these issues effectively.
“By involving representatives from our association, we can ensure that the voices and interests of those working directly in the agriculture sector are adequately represented at all levels of policy formulation and implementation.
Security expert, Hassan Arivi, noted the devastating impact of insecurity in farming communities and the impact on food availability and security.
He said “In terms of security, the government has made it clear to the new service chiefs that one of the objectives and marching order is to make sure there is security for all.”
National Coordinator of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), Supporters’ Center, Ambassador Ibrahim Batati, described President Tinubu as a man who knows exactly what to do and will surely appoint the right persons into the right ministerial position.
According to him, the present administration will allow farmers and other professionals choose the right candidates for ministerial appointment.
“In the last administration, even the position of farmers was given to politicians, this administration will not welcome that,. This administration does not welcome people who are clueless and have nothing to offer Nigerians as heads of any government agency”.
But farming cannot be done without security and farmers can do nothing in the farm without security,” he said.
