Fayemi’s day of 51 solid cheers
By Olayinka Oyebode


The recent widely reported declaration by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, that states could exploit mineral resources in their domains with the attendant positive response from states has, no doubt, opened another chapter in the federal government-states relationship. In the last one month, I have stumbled on a few group discussions on the declaration, which many see as a welcome development in the quest by the states to shore up their revenue profiles in the face of a dwindling oil price.

In one of such discussions, the emphasis was on the proviso which the minister added to the declaration: that such mining activities should be done in line with the laid down laws. “It has to be done within the provision of the law. Once you do it within the law, the government will at least get royalties from you (states), get taxes paid legitimately, have people employed in this area. This achieve our objectives of alternative revenue generation for the country and job creation for our people”, Dr Fayemi was quoted.

The development, seen by many as novel, would no doubt provide the needed lift for many of the states when it is eventually firmed up. Aside the states, many stakeholders are also excited by the plan which will see states participating in mining through partnership and joint ventures.

Whereas the new position has the backings of the law as noted by Dr Fayemi, what observers however find a bit curious is why it was never enunciated by previous regimes.

And that is vintage Fayemi. He embraces assignments with every sense of responsibility and pursues set goals with a huge dose of vigour, spiced with youthful gusto. To him the rule of law is paramount, just as social justice is an essential ingredient for socio-political and economic development/empowerment. He believes every policy must be a product of thorough process with the concomitant advantage for the majority. To him, every assignment must be discharged with precision and must come with its added value to national development and must of necessity bring succour to the people.

Whereas the constitution gives the federal government exclusive right to explore minerals. But, as an innovator, Fayemi knows that it would be difficult for the federal government to do that successfully without collaboration with the states. Hence the need to put in place a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Other plans being put in place by Fayemi to revolutionalise the solid minerals sector include upgrading the Mining Cadastre Office and the Mines Inspectorate Directorate; establishment of Mines Police; automation of the mining rights/titles; institutional support to artisanal and small scale miners for the purpose of integrating them into the formal economy. Others include building of bankable geosciences data; enforcement of the “use it or lose it” licence provision of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 ; external audit of revenue receipts as well as guaranteeing the integrity of mining licence.

He believes that the huge investments that will boost the fortunes of the sector would come when the right foundation is laid and investors confidence are restored.

For Fayemi, the desire to always think outside the box in order to provide solution and achieve set goals have remained the hallmark of his public service engagements.

In December 2015, clearly one year and two months after he had left office as governor of Ekiti State, the administration he led was recognised as one with the most transparent budget model among the 36 states in the country.

The Civil Resource Development and Documentation Centre (CIRDDOC) organisers of the award, had rated Ekiti State budget under him as being the one with the most transparent process. The survey was done with data collected in 2014. In the ‘Transparency Index 2015’, of the survey, Ekiti scored 79 – the highest score on the index ahead of Cross Rivers...

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