The Federal Government has stated that it would not probe former
minister of Agriculture, now African Development Bank (ADB) President,
Akinwumi Adesina.
It promised to give him maximum support to succeed in his continental assignment.
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made this disclosure Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference.
Ogbeh told newsmen that there was no iota of truth in the speculation
in a section of the media that the Federal Government would probe the
Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.
GES scheme was an
agricultural support programme by the former President Goodluck Jonathan
administration where registered farmers in the country paid 50 per cent
cost for seeds and fertiliser.
The minister said, “Adesina had a
good intention for the agricultural sector with some of his policies and
that is why we are going to continue with the same programme after a
review.
“We are indeed proud of the work the former minister left
behind, that is why I said in the beginning that we do not intend to do
policy somersault but continue with some of the programmes he left
behind.”
He said he made a similar remark when the Senate Committee on
Agriculture led by Sen. Abdullahi Adamu visited him at the ministry.
He recalled that he suggested the need to verify claims by suppliers, especially the seed sector for the 2015.
“I complained that the bill they gave us appeared too high.
“A
bill of N10 billion was given to the Federal Government for the supply
of seeds to farmers. We needed to verify the supply before payment.
“I
was surprised what came out in the media that said we are probing the
GES programme of the former Minister of Agriculture, Dr Adesina.
“I
just want to make it clear to us that there is no probe of Adesina`s
tenure by the Federal Government and no intention for that for now.
“If there is reason to probe, we would have said that long ago.
“He
said when Adesina was in-charge of the ministry he verified bills
before payment because some of the figures submitted by the suppliers
might be on the high side”.
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