Rice farming: No arrangment to deduct or mortgage salaries of civil servants - Ebonyi govt




ABAKALIKI-EBONYI state government yesterday debunked rumours making round that it has plans to deduct or mortgage the salaries of civil servants in the state to pursue its agricultural programme in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria.

It also stated that the policy was meant for interested farmers as the state government was working towards creating an alternative income for Civil servants and indeed every Ebonyian in the State.

State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Barr Uchenna Orji stated this in Abakaliki.

According to him, the state government had put modalities in place to engage 65000 farmers across the state as the scheme has attracted the attention of the apex bank which agreed to partner government by making certain facilities available to all interested farmers in the state.

"Nobody is deducting any money from their salary. Government have encouraged all those who are willing to participate to open a separate account from their business or salary account".

"So that if you are participating in the programme your money will not be deducted whatsoever. You will access this money in cash and in kind to enable you go into crop production and at the end after harvesting government will buy back and take the monetary equivalent of what government have invested in your farm based on the one hectre".

Orji who reiterated that anybody who is interested in taking up farming will be given N170,000 worth of farming facilities noted that the government was prepared to ensure the utilization of 80000 hectares of land for rice farming in the year under review. 

On the demand for BVN number on the application form, Mr Orji said it is to forestall people from collecting multiple loans.

"The excess is yours but government can still buy back that excess at the prevailing market price. And give you the money if you want or you can keep it. No money will be deducted from your salary".

"BVN collection is nothing fraudulent, BVN belongs to you nobody can collect it. Its like your phone number. The essence is to ensure that no one will collect more than once". Ends

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