COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF NASARAWA STATE STAKEHOLDERS FORUM HELD AT THE TA’AL CONFERENCE HOTEL, LAFIA: WEDNESDAY, 27TH APRIL, 2016

1.0 Pursuant to the commitment of the Administration of His Excellency, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Governor of Nasarawa State to inclusive governance, a meeting of critical stakeholders of the State was convened at the Ta’al Conference Hotel, Lafia on Wednesday, 27th April, 2016.

2.0 The purpose of the Forum was to brief stakeholders on the programmes, projects, activities and challenges of the Administration, as well as to tap from the wealth of experiences and views of the
stakeholders with a view to chatting the way forward in the best interest of the State.

3.0 The meeting was personally presided over by His Excellency, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, Governor of Nasarawa State and was attended by a cross-section of stakeholders of the State, including former Governor, His Excellency, Alh. (Dr.) Aliyu Akwe Doma, OON (Madauchin Doma), represented by Mr. Timothy Anjide; serving and former Hon. Ministers from the State; serving and former members of the National and State Assemblies; serving and former Judicial Officers at both Federal and State levels; serving and former members of the State Executive Council; former Secretaries to the State Government; serving and retired Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives of Government Agencies in the State; serving and former Local Government Chairmen; National Officials of the ruling party (APC), the State Chairman of the APC and officials of other political parties in the State; Chairman and 1st Class Members of the Nasarawa State Council of Chiefs; the Clergy; Leadership of the

Organised Labour in the State; Members of the Business Community; Chairmen and Secretaries of registered Development Tribal and Cultural Associations from across the State and prominent sons and daughters of the State.

4.0 Participants at the Forum commended the initiative of His Excellency, the Governor for convening the event which availed stakeholders the opportunity to have greater insight into the policies, programmes and challenges of the Administration, as well as brainstorm towards finding holistic solutions for the State.

5.0 The participants also noted with appreciation the giant developmental strides recorded by the Administration in all sectors of the economy, despite the financial constraints facing the State, particularly at this period of global economic downturn occasioned by the continuous fall in the price of crude oil and poor Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base of the State.

6.0 Participants at the Forum also expressed satisfaction with the commitment, zeal, doggedness and resilience of His Excellency, the Governor to the pursuit of the policies and programmes of his Administration targeted at placing Nasarawa State in its rightful position in the comity of States in the country despite the dwindling revenue accruing from the Federation Account and the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).

7.0 Furthermore, the Forum also noted with serious concern the recurrence of clashes between herdsmen and farmers as well as other communal crises in the State. Stakeholders, therefore, observed that the menace, if not urgently addressed, would adversely affect food production and food security in the State.

8.0 After frank discussions, participants at the Forum resolved as follows:

i) Noted the unity of purpose among the diverse ethnic nationalities during the struggle and agitation for the creation of Nasarawa State and urged all to sustain the bond of unity and shared vision for which the State was created in order to realize the objective of our collective efforts for the development of the State;

ii) That in view of the present global economic reality, Nasarawa State Government should consider the need for the diversification of the State economy to areas of comparative advantage of the State, particularly its agricultural potentials, solid minerals endowments, tourism attraction and taxation by evolving deliberate policies to optimally harness the aforementioned resources for the economic advancement of the State. Furthermore, Nasarawa State Government should take advantage of the current rapport between the State and the Federal Government, and assiduously solicit waivers on the laws governing solid minerals prospecting and exploitation in order to derive optimum benefit therefrom;

iii) That Government should sustain the option of Public-Private-Partnership arrangement for financing infrastructural development projects;

iv) That in view of the proximity of Nasarawa State to Abuja, the nation’s Federal Capital, and considering the socio-economic burden on the State in terms of over-stretched infrastructure, uncontrolled and rising slum settlements, Government should explore the huge land and investment opportunities in the Karu/Keffi/Marraba/Nyanya axis in harnessing the revenue potentials to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) for sustainable development of the State. Furthermore, in order to also improve the IGR of the State, Government should consider the option of leasing or selling its shared properties in Jos, Lagos and Kaduna;

v) It was noted that productivity in the public service is at its lowest ebb. To fully attain the potentials of the civil/public service as the fulcrum of government machinery, Government should ensure that merit, competence, patriotism and excellence remain the defining principles that guide appointment, recruitment, progression, and posting in addition to ensuring regular training and retraining of the workforce with a view to maintaining high standard and upholding ethics in the conduct of Government business.

vi) The Forum observed that the current wage bills of the State and Local Government workforce are on the high side vis-à-vis the revenue accruing to the State/Local Government Councils from both the Federation Account and the IGR. It is, therefore, recommended that Government and the Organised Labour should dialogue on the matter with a view to reviewing salaries of public and civil servants across board in the best interest of the State;

vii) That in view of the continuous decline in crude oil prices in the global market, Nasarawa State Government should consider the option of preparing its budget based on taxes and other non-oil revenues rather than oil as is currently the case;

viii) That in view of the problems associated with the payment of pension and gratuity in the State, Government should key into the contributory pension scheme regime;

ix) The Forum suggested that Government should set up a High-Powered Committee to look into all aspects of the State economy and prepare a blueprint for the State.

9.0 Conclusion:

9.1 Participants at the Summit reiterated their commitment to the realization of the noble dream of the founding fathers of Nasarawa State. In this regard, stakeholders vowed to contribute their quotas towards a holistic and sustainable socio-economic development of the State so as to bequeath a worthwhile legacy that will be a pride to future generations of citizens of the State.