Group laments failure of MDAs to respect FOI
Chima Azubuike
A group under the aegis of Budget Committee Group (BCG), on Wednesday, in Abuja, lamented the failure of Government, Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of both States and Federal to respect Freedom of Information (FOI) Act, adding that it has dire consequences on Agriculture financing.
Recall that the FOIA was passed by the National Assembly on 24th of May 2011, and was assented four days later exactly on the 28th May 2011 by former President Goodluck Jonathan, it covers all recorded information held by a public authority, while allowing for transparency and accountability.
The group comprising committees from Gombe, Ondo, Delta, Kwara, Ebonyi, Kogi States including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), made this revelation in a communique issued at the end of a 2-day Public Financing for Agriculture Budget Committee Advocacy (PFA-BCA) Summit organised by Actionaid Nigeria.
The communique also noted marginal increase in agricultural budget allocations in some States between 2012 – 2021, stressing that the allocations fell below the Maputo/Malabo Declaration benchmark of 10%.
According to the group, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development should create awareness for stakeholders on the new agricultural policy as part of effort towards promoting improved citizen participation in budget process
The communique partly read, “Regrettably, the late passage and releases of fund to the sector continues to impede the capacity of Federal and State governments to drive socio-economic development including food security within the policy thrust of the diversification of the economy towards agriculture.
“The agricultural policy which is expected to focus and drive development of favourable and sustainable guidelines for the promotion of economic growth is absent in some States.
“Some Federal and States MDAs do not respect the FOI Act as regards to public access to budget proposals, appropriation, releases and utilization of funds.MDAs at the National and State levels are urged to respect the FOI act and provide access to budget information.”
The group also pointed the need to solve impending food scarcity, following poor consideration of Agriculture budget, stressing until priority is given to food Agriculture, challenges would abound.
“Without solving food-farm security issues, we cannot solve the national and states security issues. With rising hunger and social insecurity, the peace of the country will continue to be threatened. Farms are getting abandoned due to social security threats and natural disasters.
“Making farms safe and funding agricultural mechanisation will create not only more food but also jobs to engage restless youths that have turned to crime for a living.
“We call on Federal and State Executives, National and State Houses of Assembly to Scale Up Public Investment in Agriculture. Ensure timely consideration, passage and total budget releases as a strategic approach to increase food production, reduce hunger and poverty and achieve the Maputo/Malabo Commitment.
“Public investment in agriculture should be scaled up in the specific areas of Extension Services, Access to Credit, Women in Agriculture, Youth in Agriculture, Appropriate Labour-Saving Technologies, Inputs, Post-Harvest Losses Reduction Supports (processing facilities, storage facilities, trainings, market access, etc.), Climate Resilient Sustainable Agriculture (CRSA)/Agroecology, Research and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation, as well as Coordination,” the group added.
