Kohima: The Nagaland government is set to table the Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Bill during the ongoing Assembly session, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio announced on Tuesday, expressing confidence that the legislation would be cleared within the current sitting.
Rio said the proposed legislation seeks to operationalise the provisions of the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) signed on February 5, 2026, among the Government of India, the state government and the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) for the formation of the FNTA.
He asserted that the agreement addresses the long-standing aspirations of the people of Eastern Nagaland while protecting the fundamental interests and unity of the state.
According to him, the MoA is based on clear principles — there will be no bifurcation of Nagaland, no creation of a separate state or Union Territory, no inclusion under the Sixth Schedule, and no changes to Article 371A.
While acknowledging ENPO’s demand for special responsibility of the governor over the FNTA region, Rio clarified that legislative, executive and financial powers would remain with the state government.
He further assured that the new arrangement would not interfere with the ongoing Naga political peace process.
On the broader Naga political issue, the chief minister reiterated that the talks are being held between the Government of India and Naga political groups, with the state government playing the role of an “active facilitator.”
He highlighted the constitution of a Political Affairs Committee (PAC) comprising ministers, elected representatives from all tribes, leaders of political parties and Members of Parliament to help create a favourable atmosphere for an early and honourable settlement.
Rio informed the Assembly that a high-level delegation from the state met the Union Home Minister on February 5 and reiterated a four-point resolution adopted at a consultative meeting on September 12, 2024.
The meeting was attended by 61 organisations and backed by 226 signatories. The resolution urged the Centre to elevate the peace negotiations to the political or ministerial level by appointing an interlocutor with a clear political mandate.
According to Rio, the Union Home Minister responded positively and indicated that a Minister of State for Home Affairs, along with a senior official, would be tasked with engaging in the talks at the political level. The PAC will continue its consultations with Naga groups and civil society organisations to hasten the process, he added.
Emphasising the importance of the 2027 Census, the chief minister announced that a comprehensive briefing session for legislators and political party functionaries would be held on March 11, 2026, to ensure the exercise is conducted effectively.
Addressing concerns over teacher rationalisation, Rio admitted that past census inconsistencies and the implementation of the Right to Education Act had resulted in irregularities, with some schools having very low enrolment but excess teaching staff. He said the School Education department has been instructed to review such cases.
Reaffirming the government’s zero-tolerance stance against extortion and criminal activities, the chief minister stressed the need to strengthen agricultural marketing through the state’s marketing board. He also encouraged young people to prioritise skill development and entrepreneurship instead of depending solely on government employment.
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He further stated that an Artificial Intelligence school — the fourth of its kind in the country — was recently inaugurated in Kohima, and encouraged educational institutions to adopt emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and forensic data analysis.
