Jigawa State Governor Muhammadu Badaru Abubakar has cautioned against the ban on importation of rice and other essential commodities.
He spoke last week in Dutse when receiving the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).
Abubakar warned the Federal Government on the effect of the ban on Nigerians, especially workers.
He said the ban on rice required diligence and in-depth analysis of the possible repercussions, to avoid weakening the purchasing power of the people.
According to him, the economy and the danger of relying on oil as a source of revenue necessitated the need for a review of the policies that hindered the take-off of the diversification of the economy.
The governor, who identified agriculture as a solution to the economic woes facing the country, said: “Unless we prioritise agriculture, the future is bleak.”
Abubakar noted that over-reliance on oil revenue was risky, “especially now that developed countries, such as the US, are investing in the discovery of renewable energy.”
“The current reality is that the oil prices are shrinking and they will shrink further when looking at Iran’s possibility of pumping over one million barrels next month. So, the earlier we start looking for a solution, the better,” he said.
The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Usman Yau, said they visited the governor to thank him for the increase of five per cent in the annual leave and transportation grants of civil servants.
He noted that the gesture showed that Abubakar was a man of integrity.
Yau said besides the five per cent increment, the governor was the first to pay workers’ salary in June, even before the release of the Federal Government grant.
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