By Fatima Saka
No state possesses the authority to meddle in mining operations, as it is constitutionally mandated, Hon. Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake cautioned.
The minister emphasized that mining falls exclusively under the jurisdiction of the federal government, as stipulated in the exclusive legislative list. “Any attempt to overstep this boundary is a direct violation of the Constitution.”
This information was revealed in a press release signed by Segun Tomori, media aide to the minister on Saturday, subsequent to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development investigating the allegations and counter-allegations between the Osun State Government and Thor Explorations Limited, proprietors of the Segilola Resources Operating Limited regarding taxation and operational issues.
The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, declared today that a fact-finding team has been established to engage both parties in resolving the dispute and reinstating industrial harmony.
Headed by Dr. Mary Ogbe, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development (MSMD), the committee will comprise representatives from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ministry of Labour and Employment, and the National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
The Minister noted that the Federal Government has been promoting investment opportunities in the solid minerals sector globally and cautioned that the cessation of mining operations by subnational entities could thwart efforts to attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and prompt disinvestment.
Haphazard closures of mining operations by subnationals elevate the risk of deterring foreign direct investments and, even more severe, potential disinvestment by current corporations. Mining is under the exclusive legislative list. Consultation with the Ministry of Solid Minerals should precede any such disruptive actions, Dr. Alake asserted.
The Minister reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to intensifying productive activities nationwide to bolster economic growth, enhance employment, and foster community development.
Dr. Alake underscored that any halt in industrial production will undermine the objectives of economic prosperity, deprive employees of income-earning opportunities, and exacerbate hardship.
Alake urged both parties to collaborate with the fact-finding team and permit production to persist while the issues are being addressed.
I hereby implore His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, Sen. Ademola Adeleke, and the management of Thor Exploration Limited to seek concord and industrial harmony in the interest of the workers and their dependents who may be negatively impacted by the closure of operations at the facility, he added.
