A member of the National Executive Committee of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) who is also the member representing Marte/Monguno/Nganai federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Mohammed Tahir Monguno leaves no one in doubt that he does not belong in the league of those who just occupy space in the hallow chamber but those who make meaningful contributions to the business of lawmaking. This passion, commitment and zeal in discharging his legislative functions are eloquently testifying to his sense of value and respect for the mandate given to him by his constituency. The lawmaker has also in turn, always enjoyed the goodwill of the people he is representing in the green chamber.
As chairman House Committee on Agriculture, Hon. Monguno said some legislative interventions in agriculture have been made so far by the National Assembly to move the sector forward. One of them is passage of the Bill on the amendment of the establishment of the Nigerian Agricultural Quarantine Service, NAQS which the President has assented to. The main intention of the Bill is to strengthen the arm of the NAQS to discharge its statutory service mandatory effectively to forestall the rejection of some Nigerian agricultural products exported to foreign countries, especially Europe.
The Bill on National Agricultural Land Development Authority was also passed by the National Assembly and assented to by President Buhari. The law is of immense importance to farmers from the southern part of the country where land clearing is a great challenge. Now that government is encouraging youths to go into agriculture as a means of livelihood, one does not expect them to use hoes and cutlasses, but modern equipment in consonance with today’s reality.
The Nigerian Agricultural Seed Council, (NASC) Bill has equally been passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate has concurred and it is awaiting presidential assent. In agriculture, if you solve the problem of quality seed, you have solved about 50% of productivity issues. He is hopeful that President Buhari will assent to it soon because of his passion for agriculture. This law will strengthen NASC to make it more effective and check the sale of grains to farmers in the name of seed without punishment or deterrent because there is nobody regulating the seed sector in agriculture and prescribe punishment.
Considering the importance of fertilizer in agricultural production, the Bill on Regulation Production and Sale of Fertilizer in Nigeria has also been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and it is equally awaiting presidential assent. This will stamp out quackery in fertilizer industry and also check the situation where people sell sand in the name of fertilizer to farmers thereby cheating them without any punishment.
As reactions continue to trail the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to seek a second term of office, hon. Monguno has said the President has delivered on the three cardinal points the party campaigned and therefore deserve a second term.
He stated that the APC and indeed the president promised to give security to Nigerians, guarantee peace, order and good governance, which is the primary purpose of government, stamp out corruption and to revamp the economy.
According to Hon. Mongunu, before the coming of President Buhari in 2015, 2/3 of local governments in the North East, particularly in Borno state which was the epic centre of Boko Haram, including Monguno, his own, was under the firm grip of Boko Haram; they have hoisted their flag and administering their laws, but today these local governments have all been liberated and 80% of Internally Displaced Persons, IDP have returned to their various communities and they are living their own normal lives.
“Before even in Abuja, in four/five days you will hear bomb blast and many people were being killed in Abuja, Kano, etc. Although we have another security problem that has reared its head during the pendency of this administration in form of farmer/herdsmen clashes around the North Central part of the country which is being tackled by Mr. President and very soon that will be a thing of the past”, he said.
On corruption, Hon. Mongunu said one can see the “magnitude of exposure and prosecution” now going on with people who engage in corrupt activities. Before the coming into office of the present administration our commonwealth was being plundered with impunity, but nowadays because of the staunch stance of Mr. President and his avowed fight against corruption, “people now think twice before engaging in corrupt practices. In recognition of his fight against corruption, African Union made AU Ambassador on fighting corruption, Hon. Monguno added.
Another area President Buhari has done well, according to Hon. Monguno is in the economy where he said the nation’s import bill has reduced as “90% of our rice is now produced locally. He said the nation has successfully exited the recession the country was plunged into as a result massive plunder and looting of our common wealth. Because of very good management style and prudent utilization of scarce resources by the present administration, our foreign reserve has increased.