The national assembly joint committee on livestock development has criticised the federal government’s commitment to the livestock sector, two years after the creation of the ministry livestock development.
Members of the committee expressed their dissatisfaction on
Friday during the ministry’s budget defence session.
Speaking at the session, Idi Maiha, minister of livestock
development, told the committee that 65 percent of animals consumed annually in
Nigeria are imported, despite the country’s potential to become a major red
meat exporter.
Maiha said out of the N70 billion approved as the take-off
fund for the ministry in 2024, only N20 billion has so far been released.
He added that the N10 billion appropriated as the capital
vote for the 2025 fiscal year has yet to be disbursed to the ministry.
Shehu Buba, co-chairman of the committee, said a mono-sector
economy does not support sustainable growth, adding that the committee would
push for adequate funding to drive economic diversification through livestock
development.
Tahir Monguno, the senate whip, said the poor funding level
runs contrary to the motive behind the establishment of the ministry.
“Establishment of the ministry of livestock development in
2024 was driven by the gospel of diversification of the nation’s economy,” he
said.
“It is, therefore, to my surprise and disgust that we are
paying lip service to the livestock sector now.
“We need to drum it into the ears of the executive that it
is inherently contradictory to create the ministry and woefully fail to fund
it.”
Abdul Ningi, the senator representing Bauchi central,
alleged possible sabotage behind the ministry’s zero-capital release, noting
that the development might not reflect the president’s intention.
“This is a ministry that must be supported and well-funded
by the federal government. I am suspecting sabotage on the zero-capital
allocation because Mr President meant well for the livestock development,”
Ningi said.
“The leadership of this committee should, as a matter of
urgent national importance, write to or meet with Mr President for urgent
intervention.”
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