Nasarawa Executive Council Reviews Investment, Security, Education and Agriculture
The Nasarawa State Government says it is poised to implement programmes and initiatives aimed at improving the lives and well-being of the people of the state.
This was highlighted during a meeting of the State Executive Council.
Presiding over the meeting, Governor Abdullahi Sule welcomed the eight newly appointed commissioners to the State Executive Council and briefed members on recent breakthroughs recorded in investment and security, among other developments.
The Council also deliberated on the government’s concerns over issues affecting the people of the state, including the recent outbreak of diphtheria, while preparations for the upcoming 30th anniversary celebration of Nasarawa State also featured prominently on the agenda.
The Executive Council meeting, which was held in two sessions, had in attendance stakeholders from Nasarawa Local Government Area and representatives of the Endo community in the Udege Area Administrative Council.
The presence of the stakeholders at the meeting was part of Governor Abdullahi Sule’s transparency approach, particularly following the display of the mining licence acquired by the Nasarawa State Government through the Nasarawa Mining Company.
To this end, more than two billion naira has been credited to the account of the Nasarawa Mining Company as a result of an agreement earlier signed between the Nasarawa State Government, through the Nasarawa Mining Company, and Diamond New Energy Company.
Under the agreement, a certain percentage of the proceeds will be channelled back to the host community.
The transparent approach adopted by the Governor received commendation from the Commissioner for Environment, Mining and Solid Minerals, Princess Margaret Elayo; the Commissioner for Trade and Investment; and the Managing Director of NASIDA, Barrister Ibrahim Abdullahi.
Also commending the initiative, the Emir of Nasarawa, Ibrahim Usman Jibrin, highlighted the potential benefits of the arrangement to the people of the host community and the state as a whole.
He also made a case for an environmental impact assessment to be conducted with the active participation and input of the host community.
The position was appreciated by the Osu Ajiri, Suleiman Ahmed Eko, and other stakeholders who attended the meeting.
At the end of the meeting, the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Nawani Aboki, led other commissioners to brief journalists on the decisions and deliberations of the Council.
The State Executive Council considered and took decisions on the report presented on the activities of NASETFUND, as well as discussions held with stakeholders from Nasarawa Local Government Area, the Udege Area Administrative Council and the Endo community.
The discussions highlighted the benefits associated with the various interventions, as explained by the State Commissioner for Environment, Mining and Solid Minerals, Princess Margaret Elayo.
The Council also considered the continuation of gratuity payments to retirees, as well as interventions aimed at making a positive impact in rural communities through projects that directly affect the lives of the people.
These were among the issues presented by the State Commissioner for Finance, Hajiya Munira Abdullahi.
Other areas considered during the Executive Council meeting included recent breakthroughs in the education sector and achievements recorded in agriculture.
The issues were presented by the State Commissioner for Education, Dr. John Mamman, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Mohammed Oyige Iyimoga.
