…Approves N550m to procure fertilizer, assorted chemicals, highbrid seeds -information commissioner

In line with federal government’s decision to introduced compulsory contributory pension scheme through out the country, the Adamawa state government said  that it  has begun discussion into the possibility of commencing the implementation of the contributory  pension scheme in the state.

This revelation was made by the state  head of service Dr. Amos Edger while  briefing  journalists on their  deliberations at the council after the weekly state executive council meeting  which took place in Government House presided over by Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri.
The head of  service  explained that the decision by the council  to begin this  deliberation is in compliance  with the federal government promulgation of  new pension reform act which  came into effect since 2014  and  make it mandatory  throughout  the  country but the state is yet to key into it.
“Another thing that have been discussed is that the council has commenced deliberations on the possibility of  commencing contributory pension scheme in Adamawa. What we have currently is the defined  benefit scheme where on retirement people  gets their  benefits but that has been bedevilled with alot of backlog and inability to access retirement benefits”.
“That has thrown alot of challenges and since 2014 the federal government has promulgated a pension reform act that has been made mandatory throughout the country which the state Is yet to comply with so today the  council commenced that deliberation towards the possibility of beginning the contributory pension scheme hopefully by January next year”.

Shedding  more light on the council’s  decision, the  state commissioner for information and  strategy, Dr. Garba Umar Pella added that the  council  had  also approved the total sum of N550 million  in addition to another N106 million for the procurement of 5000 metric tonnes of fertilizers, assorted chemicals and highbrid seeds for 2020 farming  season.

He further  explained that the  fertilizers will be sold to farmers at subsidized rate of 5,500 per bag in line  with  the administration’s policy of  bringing  succour to the common man which is  cheaper than how the product  is being sold in open market.
He assured the people of  the administration commitments  to lived up to the expectations of the  citizens in the implementation  of  people-oriented policies  and programmes that will  improve the living  conditions of  the people  of  Adamawa.
On his part the  state commissioner for  agriculture, Mr. Dishi khobe assured farmers in the  state  that very soon the product  will  be  made available  to them.

He  attributed  the delay to federal  government’s  decision to impose  a banned on NPK fertilizers  across  the  North East states due to the  challenges of insecurity.

According to him, the state government has  already written to the  National security  advicer  seeking permission to give the  state  a waiver to allow it acquire  fertilizer and  distribute it to their  farmers.
He further noted  that, what they are waiting  for now is just  a nod  from the federal government through  the office of the national security advicer as soon as they receive it they will purchase the product  and tranport it to the state for the benefit of the farmers  adding that they dont want to jump the gun because they dont want their farmers to be subjected to all forms of embarrasment from the security agents when moving the fertilizer to their various localities.
He added that as far as they are concerned the timing is not late as believed by some people because the rain have just started, besides, it is better to do the  right thing than to do the wrong thing and achieved nothing as he assured Adamawa farmers that the product will be made available to them very soon.