The Federal Government has suspended the controversial Ruga policy.
The decision to suspend the policy was taken by the National Economic Council under the chairmanship of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.
The NEC is made up of the Vice President, Governors of the 36 States, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and some other government appointees.
The communique of the outcome of the meeting was read by the Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi.
The communique reads in full: “We the NEC committee on farmers/ herders crisis under the chairmanship of HE Mr. Vice President met today to deliberate on the approved programme of National Economic Council (NEC) and Federal Government, tagged, the National Livestock Transformation Programme.
“We are aware that today that Mr. President has suspended the implementation of Ruga programme, initiated and being implemented by the Federal ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, because it is not consistent with the NEC and Federal Government approved National Livestock Transformation plan which has programmes of rehabilitation of displaced IDPs, resulting from the crisis and also development of ranches in any willing state of the Federation. The word is willing state of the federation.
“The National Livestock Transformation plan, its beauty is that what NEC and FG approved is a voluntary programme to all the 36 states who may like to participate. So, it is not compulsory, it is for any state that is willing, will key into the programme.
“Any state that is interested in this programme is required to bring up a development plan that is keyed towards the implementation in line with our own programme here that is unique to his state based on the challenges that he has in respect of the crisis. That’s the decision of this committee.”
