Nagaland Chief Minister and Dr. Neiphiu Rio has informed that the recently signed Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) agreement will be enacted as a State Act during the forthcoming Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) Budget Session beginning March 2. Speaking to the media at Chümoukedima, Rio clarified that the FNTA agreement would be legislated as a State Act, not a Parliamentary Act. He explained that once passed in the Assembly, the process of establishing the FNTA administrative structure would begin, with an interim arrangement lasting one year. During this period, salaries of the authority would be borne by the state government. Rio said discussions with the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organization (ENPO) and Union Home Ministry officials were conducted item by item, with necessary corrections made in line with Cabinet decisions before the tripartite agreement was finalized. He further informed that the Finance Ministry had agreed to provide funding for the ENPO autonomous arrangement from the Union Home Ministry budget, ensuring the state’s financial share would not be adversely affected.
FNTA to Be Enacted as State Act: CM Neiphiu Rio
