Licensed mining companies to enjoy government’s constant support: Minister

*Their payment of due royalties to government would provide needed funds for infrastructural development in Nigeria  ─Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

As long as they are committed to paying their royalties to Nigeria irrespective of where they are located in the country, the Federal Government has pledged continued support and to serve the interests of licensed mining companies.

Arc. Olamilekan Adegbite, Honourable Minister for Mines and Steel Development, Tuesday, August 25 made the pledge during the award of Certificate of Service to Dr. Sidikat Salau of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office (NMCO), in Abuja, FCT, according to agency report.

Dr. Salau, who had a Master’s in Geology and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Mineral Explorations, was retiring from service after 33 years.

The Minister said: “Wherever they are, so long as they are committed to paying their royalties to government, we will stand by them and protect them whenever necessary, even when they run into trouble outside the country.”

The Federal Government in its bid to increase revenue generation from mining, is formulating a policy to ensure that mining companies pay the accurate royalties from their sales, report said.

Arc. Adegbite earlier had said that the payment of due royalties to the government would provide the needed funds for infrastructural development for the country.

Describing Salau’s retirement as a day of honour, the Minister said it was wonderful to be celebrated by one’s peers rather than merely being celebrated for what people benefited from the person.

Attaining the retirement age of 60 in the Civil Service and still looking graceful is a thing to be grateful to God for, remarked Adegbite.

Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah, Honourable Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development while presenting a Certificate of Service to Salau, charged her to remain a good ambassador.

Ogah prayed for her continued good health and prosperity in retirement.

Mr. Obadiah Nkom, Director-General of Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, also said the office was honoured to have the two Ministers at the event.

Nkom, who stated that the event was to honour the Ministers’ one year in office and the retiring Dr. Salau, said that NMCO would collaborate with the Ministers to enable them achieve their mandates.

Referring to the two Ministers, the NMCO Director-General said “with the spirit you drive the ministry; we don’t have any choice than to support you.’’

The relationship between the two ministers is enviable and should be commended, he remarked.

Nkom congratulated the retiring Salau on the feat she recorded in her service years and for attaining retirement age in good health.

In her response, Salau, who rose from the ranks in the ministry and retired as a Director, thanked the Ministers for honouring her with their presence, saying that the ministry made her what she is today.

She charged civil servants not to wait for government sponsorship to acquire knowledge, adding that the decisions she took in the past to acquire knowledge brought her that far.

“Whatever it is, do not look for money, look for knowledge because with knowledge, money and everything would come,” said she.

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