National Economic Council (NEC) Delay Discussion on State Police Amid Pressing Agenda
Delay in State Police Discussion by NEC Driven by Time Pressure
In a surprising turn of events, the National Economic Council (NEC) called off their deliberations on the establishment of state police, citing limited time and lengthy discussions on other topics during their extended meeting at the Council Chambers of the State House, Abuja.
Our sources confirm that the topic of state police, which has garnered nationwide attention, was set to be discussed during the meeting but was not addressed before the meeting's conclusion.
Bayelsa State Governor, Douye Diri, affirmed that the issue of state police was discussed in Thursday's meeting. However, due to the extended duration of presentations on various subjects, the debate was postponed.
"State police was on our agenda for today. Unfortunately, due to extended presentations on other topics, we ran out of time to reach the bit on state police. Rest assured, that issue will be thoroughly discussed at our next meeting," Governor Diri told journalists during the post-NEC briefing.
The delay in the state police conversation comes at a time when demand for enhanced security measures at the state level is surging. The proposal was originally brought up in December 2024, in which all states expressed support for the idea.
The significance of the issue was underscored during the meeting as NEC observed a moment of silence for victims of recent violent attacks in Plateau and Benue states, emphasizing the growing concerns over national security.
With the postponement of the state police discussion, the spotlight turned to other pressing issues, particularly in the agriculture sector.
Commenting on the shifting focus, Nasarawa Governor Abdullahi Sule, along with his counterparts from Imo, Ekiti, and Bayelsa states, provided updates on key agricultural initiatives.
Addressing Farmer-Herder Conflicts
Sule focused on lingering concerns surrounding the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), an initiative designed to mitigate farmer-herder conflicts by implementing modern ranching systems. Sule acknowledged setbacks in funding that had hindered the program's broader implementation.
"The NLTP, a joint effort between the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Dutch government, faced challenges at its inception, especially regarding funding. These issues, although not fully resolved prior to the 2023 elections, are being addressed by a new initiative under the Ministry of Livestock Development," Sule explained.
Sule also shed light on reports of land encroachment at the pilot ranching site in Nasarawa, clarifying that the locals were allowed to resume farming temporarily to prevent the land from falling into disuse.
Modern Solutions for farmer-herder conflicts
Governor Diri emphasized the necessity of modern solutions to address longstanding farmer-herder conflicts. He highlighted cattle ranching and peacebuilding initiatives as crucial components of the ministry's efforts to modernize the agricultural sector.
"The sector is being modernized, with more emphasis on cattle ranching and peacebuilding as part of the ministry's initiatives," Diri asserted.
While Thursday's meeting couldn't attend to all planned agenda items, it reinforced NEC's commitment to addressing the twin challenges of national security and food security.
As anticipation builds for the next NEC session, there is much excitement to see if the highly anticipated conversation about state police will finally take center stage, especially as it continues to resonate with citizens across the nation.
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Sources:
- The Guardian
- Daily Trust
- Premium Times
- SaharaReporters
- Vanguard
- The National Economic Council (NEC) postponed their discussion on establishing state police due to time constraints, with various topics taking longer than anticipated during their meeting in Abuja, Nigeria.
- Despite the delay, Governor Douye Diri assured that the state police issue will be thoroughly discussed at the next NEC meeting.
- The postponement of the state police discussion comes at a time when demand for enhanced security measures at the state level is surging, particularly in light of recent violent attacks in Plateau and Benue states.
- During the meeting, Governor Abdullahi Sule discussed the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), an initiative aimed at resolving farmer-herder conflicts, and addressed challenges in funding and land encroachment at the pilot ranching site in Nasarawa.
- Governor Diri emphasized the need for modern solutions, particularly cattle ranching and peacebuilding initiatives, to address longstanding farmer-herder conflicts as part of the ministry's efforts to modernize the agricultural sector.
- As anticipation builds for the next NEC session, the conversation about state police remains a key point of interest, especially as it continues to resonate with citizens across Nigeria, a country commonly referred to as Naija.
