By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar has stated that he will support the training and welfare of the staff of the ministry in order to enhance their performance and increase their productivity in the work place.
Dr. Abubakar gave this assurance when he visited the North- West Zonal office Complex in Kaduna, Kaduna State over the weekend.
Making this assurance in a statement signed by the Chief Information Officer Ezeaja Ikemefuna on Sunday, the minister pointed out that the working visit was basically to ensure that the staff and management team of the ministry in the North West region worked in tandem with the Federal Government’s focus on the overall development of human capacity for enhanced productivity especially in its efforts in achieving food security and Job creation for Nigerians.
He urged the staff to always align their duties with President Muhammadu Buhari’s diversification policy in the Agric sector whose one his main goals include achieving food sufficiency, job creation and economic growth.
According to him, “the establishment of the Zonal and State Offices of the ministry across the country is to provide leadership and policy direction for the successful implementation of the Agricultural programmes of the Ministry across board.
“There is need for a robust synergy and collaboration between the Headquarter, Zonal and State levels for the effective and efficient implementation of the diversification policy of the government.’’
In his remarks, the North – West Zonal Director in the ministry, Engr. Ubandoma Ulaaramu, described the minister’s visit as “good and timely”, adding that it will encourage and enhance the capability of staff in the zone. He pledged the support of the staff to work assiduously towards achieving the ministry’s mandate and Mr. President’s diversification plan in the agriculture sector.
Earlier, the Minister visited the Ministry’s Central Stores located at Mando, Kaduna where he promised to ensure that the equipment and farm inputs procured by the ministry get directly to the people they are meant for (farmers), stating that they are the bedrock of the government’s investment in achieving it economic diversification and growth through the agricultural sector.
