Taraba State Governor, Darius Ishaku has made a case for a constitutional review of mining rights to reflect present socio-economic realities.
Mining is currently mostly under the Federal Government’s control under the law, but the Governor believes the exclusivity is worrisome and should be reviewed to allow the States more leverage to promote the development of the sector.
Decrying the governments’ insensitivity, he stated that Governors across the country have proffered solutions to the Federal government in order to have a win-win situation, but the Federal Government has paid deaf ears to their suggestions.
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Governor Ishaku made the comment while inaugurating the Governing Council of the Taraba State College of Agriculture at the Government House in Jalingo yesterday.
His words; ‘The mineral that is below the ground belongs to the Federal Government, but I have the right on the surface of the ground.’
He continued; ‘So how do you go under the ground without calling on the landowner to access it?
‘That is the crux of the matter. And it hasn’t been resolved. The exclusivity of mining to the Federal Government is one of those things that people who are calling for the review of the constitution, among the several.
‘So we find ourselves in this tight corner. Some of us have proffered so many solutions, as to how we can go about this to achieving a win-win solution for both the federal and state governments.’
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK