Whereas the resignation of Hon Tim Nda Diche as Kogi state commissioner for agriculture and natural resources springed up diverse opinion on what might have been responsible for his action six months into office, there could be an underlying blessing in it on a second thought. With due cognizant to the saying that many hands can spoil the dish, the development is an opener for a more enclosed government system.
It is worthy of note that if not Kogi and few other states in Nigeria, the ministry of agriculture is usually merged with rural development while natural resources either go with mines or environment. Therefore, if the hitherto agriculture and natural resources is an unnoticed excess, the government now have a golden opportunity to restructure, harmonize and organize these ministries.
For the records, Kogi state presently has its ministry of environment been headed by Hon Rosemary while rural development is been headed by Hon Enema Paul. Both whom are not just performing over board but have demonstrated an uncommon leadership dexterity in the period under review through their individual ways as may be in tandem to the socioeconomic development of Kogi state.
Even as kogites hitherto have an unjustifiable apathy toward environmental sanitation, through increased awareness and surmountable commitment been put toward the latter, environmental sanitation is gradually becoming a routine norm in the state. And on his path, Hon Enema Paul has so far made a topmost priority the resuscitation of many rural waters and like the adage which says-“water is life”, the young but ebullient commissioner is seriously giving life to rural dwellers.
Going by the foregoing, “Hon Enema Paul and Rosemary Osikoya are so far demonstrating uncommon leadership” in the new direction government of Kogi state and by implication could be charged to continue from wherever Hon Tim Nda Diche stopped. In fulfilling this premise, agricultural files should be immediately matched with rural development while those of natural resources be matched to environment.
While it is normal for technocrats to have commenced lobbying for replacement of the resigned commissioners office, it is equally pertinent for the governor and his decision making circles to cross check the financial advantages matching this ministry with already existing ones will have on the state especially at a time when government coffers are not as robust as it used to be when global oil prices was stable rather than the favour it will seem to the prospective appointee.
– Comrade A M Nasir writes From Minna, Niger State.
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