The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has urged the Federal Government to create food production zones in each geo-political zones to cushion the effect of economic hardship in the country.
Mr Olusegun Abatan, the Southwest Public Relations Officer of NUP, made the appeal at a news conference in Abeokuta on Thursday, after the union’s zonal meeting.
Abatan called on the government to declare a state of emergency on food security.
The South-West NUP spokesperson said that there was need for massive importation of agricultural machineries, equipments and agrochemicals.
He stressed further that there was need to revive agricultural extension services in the country.
“Government should open up rural roads for agriculture, and set in motion a culture of road maintenance,” he said.
Abatan appealed to President Bola Tinubu not to scrap the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).
He explained that, aside seamless payment of pensions and gratuities, the PTAD had eliminated long queues of pensioners and even death during verification exercises.
He urged the Federal Government to redeem its pledge and be more proactive in tackling the increasing economic hardship.
