Katsina State Governor, Dikko Radda, has advocated for a transition towards ranching as a more sustainable and profitable alternative to open grazing, amidst the region’s ongoing insecurity and agricultural challenges.
The bill to ban open grazing and establish ranches for herders in Nigeria has successfully passed a second reading in the Senate.
This development occurred on Wednesday during the Senate plenary session, where the bill received majority support when Senate President Godswill Akpabio put it to a vote.
During an appearance on TVC’s “Politics on Sunday,” Governor Radda emphasized the advantages of ranching, stating, “There is a need for us to encourage ranching. I’m not supporting or opposing, but I’m saying there is a need for us to embrace ranching because it is more profitable.”
He elaborated that ranching provides value addition and increased security compared to open grazing, which often results in conflicts.
Governor Radda underscored the importance of a gradual transition, advocating for public education and encouragement to adopt ranching practices.
He noted, “We can’t take the herders off the streets just in a very short time. We need to give time for people to be enlightened. There’ll be a lot of sensitization and encouragement for people to go into ranching because it is more profitable and more secure.”
Despite significant security concerns, Governor Radda highlighted that a substantial portion of land in Katsina is still actively farmed. “I’m telling you, 90% of the lands in Katsina are being cultivated despite the insecurity.
There has been production in many areas affected by insecurity,” he noted. However, he acknowledged that farms located near forests are particularly vulnerable and difficult to control.
Addressing the issue of minimum wage, Governor Radda discussed the financial challenges facing Katsina State, contrasting its economic situation with wealthier states like Lagos.
“My monthly allocation has not exceeded 10 billion Naira. When you look at the wage bill, pensions, and overhead costs, it takes over 50% of what we collect,” he explained.
He emphasized the disparity in revenue generation between states, calling for economic policies tailored to each state’s capabilities. “Lagos is making about 60 billion Naira a month, while Katsina makes about 1.5 billion.
How can you compare a state earning 60 billion with one earning 1.5 billion? Even with all mechanisms in place, Katsina cannot collect 10% of what Lagos collects in taxes,” he argued.
Governor Radda criticized the one-size-fits-all approach to minimum wage in Nigeria, suggesting that each state should set wages based on its economic capabilities. He stated, “It is only in Nigeria that we have one single minimum wage for laborers across all states.
In other countries, different states have different minimum wages based on sustainability and affordability. What is the need for the state government to agree to pay 100,000 Naira if they can’t implement it?”
Reflecting on his accomplishments during his first year as governor, Radda noted that security has been significantly managed with the introduction of the Katsina State Community Watch, enacted by the national assembly. This initiative received support from relevant security agencies, helping to manage the security situation in the state.
On educational reforms, Governor Radda highlighted efforts to address the increase in out-of-school children due to insecurity. He said, “We have done a great thing in education.
As I said, insecurity has also increased the number of out-of-school children. But what I have done is putting more infrastructure on the ground. When I came into office, in the first six months of my administration, we recruited 7,325 teachers on a merit basis.”
