The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, has underscored the critical role of agriculture if Nigeria must achieve sustainable development.

Delivering the 16th and 17th Convocation Lecture of the University of Agriculture, Makurdi, with the theme “Good Governance: The Bedrock of National Development”, the Speaker said before the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria in the 50s, Nigeria was able to  achieve great strides in development using revenue from mainly agriculture from regional marketing boards to build educational institutions like  the University of Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello University and University of Ife, as well as well as built new schools, awarded scholarships, opened industrial areas and established banks and other regional economic corporation like the Odua Investment Corporation.

Bankole said a situation where the state government is dependent on the allocation received from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee mostly from crude oil revenue is unsustainable.

Adding that Federal, States  and Local Governments must as a matter of urgency release their energy in the area of human development, agriculture and other areas for the sustenance of the nation.

Bankole decried a new trend of “quite corruption” now prevalent in the nation in terms services and projects not delivered even after payment have been made.

“When public officials are not available to do their job for which they receive salaries at the end of the month: when government officials in the ministry of agriculture adulterate or even divert fertilizer meant for poor village farmers .All these dishonest conduct cost billion of naira just as they affect the attainment of sustainable national development , yet they rarely attract newspaper headlines”

The Speaker said  democratic government is a starting point for good governance as well as sustainable development for our nation adding that in spite of flaws observed during elections, the successful and peaceful transition from one government to another government was a paradigm shift from chaotic, and sometimes violent change of government of the  of the past.

Bankole said the Parliament is critical in the process of good governance and will play its constitutional  role and oversight functions geared toward a radical socio_ economic and technological transformation of the country in an attempt to empower millions of our people adding that the House he presided over has achieved a 3:1 ratio in law making as well as other areas of representation.

Earlier on the chairman of the occasion Professor Ochapa Onazi, the chairman of the occasion  said credible election next year will greatly assist in sustainable development adding that all Nigerians should fully participate in the elections.