Solid Mineral Development: Ogor Calls for Review of Extant Laws

The Minority of the House of Representatives, Hon. Leo Ogor, has called for immediate review of extant laws that empowered the Federal Government to control solid mineral resources in the country.

Ogor said that the review of the laws would promote the involvement of state governments in solid mineral exploration and also encourage diversification of the country’s economy.

He stated this at the Sectoral debate on Solid Minerals organised by the House of Representatives, unveiled plans for the establishment of intervention funds for the development for agriculture and solid minerals sectors as part of efforts geared towards realisation of the diversification of the nation’s economy.

“Things have to be done differently. State laws and the federal laws have become a major challenge so I think the first point that we need to lay foundation on is how we can amend or find other means of removing these laws.

“And I draw reference to Section 44 (3) of the 1999 constitution that placed all mineral resources in the hands of the Federal Government.
“If you look at the situation we have today in this country we have created a situation where people come hand in hand with the tiers of government sharing money on monthly basis.

“We have abandoned the whole agricultural sector, cocoa and palm oil production, instead we come together and share oil money and look at the situation we have found ourselves.

“I believe the starting point is to make sure that the provision of Section 44 (3) of the Constitution is totally deleted from the Constitution because automatically it places the whole responsibility on the shoulder of the Ministry.

Speaking further, Ogor said the Federal Government should not control the solid mineral resources of the country stating that state governments should utilize the opportunities inherent in the sector.

“If you ask me the Federal Government has no business controlling the solid mineral resources of the country. "Various state governments should control these resources and bring the tax-paying arrangement to the centre; it would create room for people to look inwards towards diversifying the economy,” he said.

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