The Nigerian Youth Parliament world press release
on the 14th of August, 2017.
It
was Nelson Mandela who maintains that the strength of every Nation is domiciled
in the capacity, energy and vitality of their youth constituency. Little wonder
the United Nations General Assembly on the 17th day of December 1999
endorsed a recommendation of the World Conference of Ministers in Lisbon,
Portugal in August 1998 which outlined a clear set of commitments for
member States
to adopt, implement and share progress annually. Thus, one of the Key
recommendations of the 1998 WCM is the declaration of every 12th of
August as the International Youth Day, which culminated into Resolution 54/120
of the United Nations which mandates member States to observe the day globally.
Over
the years, there have been significant global drives in assessing all Youth
Response Action (YRA) across the United Nations Member States on the date.
However, the Nigerian Youth Parliament which is the Apex legislative body of
Nigerian Youth Constituency has demonstrated clear and lucid compliance with
all strategic home-grown Youth Response Action and solutions to address the
teeming challenges that is confronting the youth constituency.
The
Parliament resolves to appreciate the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports on
the Successful organization of the 2nd Sitting of the Nigerian Youth
Parliament on 14th-21st May, 2017. We also appreciate the
National Assembly under the Leadership of Distinguished Senator (Dr.) Bukola
Saraki CON for the demonstration of honest legislative wisdom in the
passage of the Not Too Young To Run and The Local Government Autonomy Bills
among others.
ISSUE OF URGENT
NATIONAL IMPORTANCE
The
Parliament has witnessed with utmost dismay, the unguarded and frivolous
proclamations by some disjointed, disgruntled, unpatriotic and social irritants
who are seeking cheap popularity through utterances which threatens the
sovereign unity and integrity of the country. On this basis, the Parliament as
an authentic voice of the Nigerian Youth Constituency hereby sounds a note of
warning to all these groups. Consequently, we call on the leadership of the
National Assembly to promulgate a legislation that will address the activities
of these groups set in place the right punishment. This is because freedom of
speech does not imply utterances of words capable of truncating national peace,
unity and cohesion. However Nigeria is
one united entity and our strengths lies in our diversity and in the Unity of
Nigeria we stand.
* Unemployment: According to the
Bureau of Statistics, the Nigerian Unemployment rate has risen to 14.2%,
thereby leaving millions of Nigerians, especially youth jobless. This Ugly
situation seems to have been receiving little or no policy attention presently.
Therefore, Parliament resolves that Federal Government of Nigeria should
declare state of emergency on the economic sector, meet every policy statement
targeting the recovery of our economy with the right strategic actions, build
youth capacity and create jobs in other to avert the impending socio-economic
and political hurricane that may hit the country if no commensurate measures
are in place, and in the right time.
* Restructuring: All around the
world, Nations and societies adjust to the realities of every moments and
seasons, so as to be able to fix every evolving social challenge. It is worthy
of note that Nigerian case should not be different. Apparently, Parliament
resolves as follows;
i. That the outcome of the National Confab be
fully implemented, as it reflects the true opinions, consent and goodwill of
every Nigerians, having in it, the true home-grown ideations, ideologies and
innovative solutions to fix the country and strengthen our unity.
ii. That there should be complete economic and
political restructuring of the country; giving the federating constituents the
capacity to realize their unique socio-economic and political potentials and
grow their prosperity. This is because no nation has ever grown a robust
economy by sharing national income as in the case of Nigeria, but by realizing
and developing diverse areas of unique advantages and trailing new ideas
capable of meeting very present and evolving challenges.
iii. That Federal Government should open sincere
dialogue with different genuine groups clamoring for the restructuring of the
country and aggregate their opinions for the benefit of stepping up a holistic
solution to address the surging agitations.
* Youth Budget: The Parliament
frowns at the budget of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and Sports,
which centre over 80% percent of the sectoral allocation on recurrent expenditure,
leaving behind the deserving budgetary commitment on youth development issues.
To this end, the ministry should stand up to her responsibility of developing
the enormous potentials of our youth demography and aligning herself with all
global conventions on youth development. This is because; no Nation develops
above the strength and capacity of her youth.
THE NATIONAL
ASSEMBLY AND THE PARLIAMENT
The
Parliament resolve to appreciate the leadership of the 8th National
Assembly for their assiduous support and commitments to the Parliament.
Similarly, Parliament resolve to remind the leadership of the National Assembly
of her avowed commitments and assurances on the full integration of the Parliament
in the National Assembly and undertaking the Parliaments annual budgets and programmes,
not forgetting the proposed three months Parliamentary Internship offered to be
undertaken by the National Assembly Starting 1st October, 2017.
* Observed Negligence of the Youth
Constituency:
Parliament Observed with dismay, the untold negligence of the Youth
Constituency by the Federal Government. All over the world, the leadership of
every Nation demonstrates clear and objective engagements of their youth
population, especially through the youth leaders. However, the Nigeria
experience is different; this is evident on the failure of the Federal
Government to celebrate the United Nations International Youth Day for two
consecutive years now. Similarly, the Federal government has failed to engage
the youth leaders of the country to discuss issues impeding development in the
sector for years now. Parliament, therefore, resolve to appeal to the Acting President
to convoke a National Youth Roundtable Dialogue (NYRD) to address several
issues confronting the youth constituency.
PARLIAMENT KEY
RESOLVES/DEMANDS
In
strict compliance to our collective resolve and determination of championing
every programmes and policies aimed at securing a genuine development that will
ripple down positively on the Nigerian people, Parliament resolved and thus
demand;
I. That the State Houses of Assembly should
as a matter of necessity and transgenerational breakthrough pass the NOT TOO
YOUNG TO RUN BILL and the Local Government Autonomy Bill as passed by the National
Assembly. Notably, the youth demography is watching with keen interest and
ready to adequately match our Rhetoric with ACTIONS in ensuring that the Bills blaze
through.
II. The Federal Government should declare a National
Youth Day as a day for celebrating the enormous potentials of our youth
demography, and assessing all Youth Response Actions (YRA) and setting in
motion a 360 Days National Work plan on Youth Development.
III. The Presidency should arrange an urgent
meeting with Youth Stakeholders with the Acting president or the president.
IV. That the Federal government should convoke a
National Youth Conference on Security and peace building in line with the
United Nations theme for 2017 IYD.
V.
That the presidency should remove the
National Youth Service Corps budget from the Youth budget.
VI. That the presidency should declare state of
emergency in the power, Agriculture and science and Technology sectors.
Consequently, the ministers of these Ministries should sit up and meet every
policy statement with Action.
VII. That the 8th National Assembly
should promulgate an Act that will establish the punitive measures as deterrents
to every hate speech that will ridicule and destabilize the National Unity and cohesion.
VIII. That the presidency should as a matter of
urgency commence the full implementation of all treaties, agreements and
consensus with any group.
IX. That the federal government should adhere
and comply with all court rulings, judgments and injunctions, thereby doing
away with selectiveness in the compliance with any outcome of court process.
This is to strengthen our nascent democracy, ensure good place for rule of law,
separation of powers and ensure checks and balances.
XI
That all the political parties in the country should strengthen the youth wing of
their party, and enshrine in their party constitution the specification that
qualification for occupying the office of the youth leader must be within the
youth age (18-35 years) as specified by the National Youth Policy and African
Youth Charter. Else, the Parliament will drive alongside key youth stakeholders
and youth groups for a nationwide campaign against such party, as of course
being anti-youth.
In
ensuring the Unity, Progress and robust prosperity of Nigeria, the Parliament avows
to leave no stones unturned to doing all that is required and in engaging the
right resource, strategy as well as every key stakeholders and groups to ensure
the possibility of a peace, prosperous and strong Nigeria of our dream.
God
bless Nigeria!
Rt. Hon. Ayodele Obe
John
Speaker, The Nigerian Youth Parliament
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