Makinde Wants State Govs To Handle Mining

The presidential candidate of the Action Peoples Movement (APM), Seyi Makinde, has called for the devolution of mining responsibilities to state governments, saying states should be given greater powers to manage mineral resources within their territories.

Makinde said the Federal Government should retain oversight while states take more responsibility for mining, arguing that devolving such powers would enable state governments to better address issues affecting their people.

He made the call on Tuesday at the APM Northwest Consultative Meeting in Daura, Katsina State, after meeting party candidates and stakeholders in the geopolitical zone, according to a press statement made available to newsmen by Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Special Adviser (Media) to the Oyo State Governor.

The APM presidential candidate said his administration would devolve more powers to states to tackle insecurity and other challenges confronting the country.

Makinde asked Nigerians to consider which level of government was best positioned to make decisions on issues affecting them, saying the political system needed to be reset to make governance more responsive.

He said the proposed devolution would not be limited to mining, adding that his administration would reset the political system, education, health and security sectors as part of efforts to build a more functional Nigeria.

On the economy, Makinde said he would reset the country’s economic system to operate 24 hours a day, with greater emphasis on entrepreneurship, skills, knowledge and production.

He also linked the need for stronger state-level responsibility to the security challenges facing the country, referring to the loss of 37 young people in Niger State and stressing the need for governments to be able to respond more effectively to issues affecting their people.

Makinde further said his administration would comply with constitutional provisions on the transmission of presidential powers, noting that he would transmit power to the Vice-President whenever he was unavailable.

He said the Vice-President would be held accountable for his actions while exercising presidential powers, citing Section 145 of the Constitution.

Makinde also urged Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards and use the 2027 election to show that Nigeria is bigger than individuals and political systems.

The meeting was attended by APM Vice-Presidential candidate, Lawal Daura; National Chairman, Yusuff Mamman Dantale; members of the National Working Committee, candidates in the six Northwest states and other party stakeholders.