A Bill for an Act to establish the Federal College of Agriculture Agila, Benue State, has passed the first reading in the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The Bill is sponsored by Hon. Philip Agbese (APC, Benue), representing Ado/Okpokwu/Ogbadibo federal constituency of Beneue State.
The Bill seeks to create a federal institution dedicated wholly to agriculture with a tripodal mandate of teaching, research, and extension services in Agila, Ado local government area of the State.
Agbese also proposed another Bill titled ‘Non-Oil Mineral Resources Producing Communities Development Commission (Establishment) Bill’.
The Bill if passed into law, will have the sole sole mandate of developing mining communities that have often suffered neglect.
Some of the States to benefit from this proposed legislation include Zamfara, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, and Enugu.
Speaking to journalists, Agbese said the two Bills were very personal to him as they directly affect his people and Nigerians at large.
He said Agila, where he hails from, is renowned for agriculture, and a world-class institution cited there will further improve their livelihood.
Agbese said the ultimate was to bring young Nigerians from across the country to Agila to learn and become better citizens.
He added that, consequently, robust agricultural experts would be produced in an atmosphere of development and economic boom.
On the Non-Oil Mineral Resources Producing Communities Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, he said: “We have some communities in the country where mining activities have taken place over five decades. We have Jos (Plateau State), Nkalagu (Enugu State), Obajana (Kogi State), Agila, Gboko (Benue State), and many others in Zamfara State.
“All these places, limestone, gold, and other natural resources are harvested while the communities are neglected. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has rested the issue of corporate social responsibilities solely in the hands of companies.
“Ultimately, these companies do nothing, and the communities don’t benefit after the government must have received taxes.
“The essence of the agency is to thoroughly follow up with the welfare of these communities by tasking companies with a certain percentage of their profit. Just like the NDDC, this commission will, in turn, make sure that the communities are developed with better infrastructure.”
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