The Governor of Taraba State Governor, Darius Dickson Ishaku, has called for constitutional review concerning mining rights.
Under the law, the Federal Government is currently in control of mining, but Ishaku believes the exclusivity is perturbing and, therefore, needs to be reviewed to promote the development of the sector.
The Governor said his colleagues across the country have tendered solutions to the Federal government to have a balanced situation, but FG did not put into consideration, their suggestions.
Ishaku disclosed this at the Taraba Government House in Jalingo on Saturday, while inaugurating the Taraba State College of Agriculture Governing Council.
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The governor reiterated that it is of concern that in a state the Federal Government would mine mineral resources without carrying the governors in the state along.
In 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 said. “So how do you go under the ground without calling on the landowner to access it?
Speaking further, Ishaku noted that the previous point he made is the core of the matter and it has not been resolved yet, adding that the exclusivity of mining to the FG is one of the reasons why the masses are calling for the Constitution review, among the several.
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He now disclosed that Governors have tendered so many solutions regarding how the country can go about it to achieve a balanced solution for both the federal and state governments.
“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,” he said.
