APC Agro directorate asks FG to compensate farmers

The Directorate of Agro-Commodities of the APC Presidential Campaign Council has called on the federal government to compensate farmers for losses due to the Naira policy of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The directorate made the request on Saturday during a press conference in Abuja.

Shehu Muazu, a member of the PCC and National Coordinator for the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, stated that farmers have suffered losses during the implementation of the policy.

He noted that action should be taken by the current government to reduce the effect of the policy on farmers.

“On our side, we have a president-elect, who is not yet in office. However, the director wants to call the president and Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari… anyone should be punished, we should forgive as the principal has directed. But , we are calling on the federal government now to implement policies that will help reduce the loss of farmers,” he said.

Naira redesign

The CBN last year announced the redesign of the 200, 500 and 1,000 naira, and plans to end the use of the old notes on February 10.

The implementation of the policy resulted in cash shortages that prompted three state governments – Kaduna, Kogi, and Zamfara – to approach the Supreme Court for intervention.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how some members of the ruling party, including the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, opposed the policy and called on Mr. Buhari to act.

However, Mr. Buhari refused to comply with the Supreme Court order and instead offered a compromise to allow the old N200 note to continue to exist alongside the new note until April 10.

On Friday the Supreme Court finally expanded N200, N500, and N1,000 Naira notes are valid until December 31.

We will mobilize farmers for the governorship race

In his speech, the directorate coordinator for the North-west, Bello Abubakar, said the campaign council will mobilize farmers across the country to vote for the APC governorship candidate across the country.

“We call on all farmers to come out en masse for the upcoming governorship and councilorship elections on March 11, 2023 and vote for the APC candidate in large numbers in the statewide elections. Please note that every farmer’s vote is important and farmers must give it.

Also Read: Updated: Council of State backs naira redesign policy, wants ‘aggressive’ circulation – Official

“Rural farmers are the main constituency of APC and we must show this by electing APC candidates in the coming elections to help HE Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu and HE Senator Kashim Shettima deliver their mandate to Nigerians,” he said.

Gubernatorial elections are scheduled for March 11 in 28 states.