News

FG urged to give the Youths ” actual power” to participate in policy making

Published

4 months ago

June 2, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The Minister for Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim has urged the Federal Government to give Nigerian Youths the “actual power” to participate in decision making in the country.
Jamila made this appeal on Friday in Abuja while receiving a team of delegates from National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies(NIPSS), Kuru, Jos who paid her a courtesy visit in her office.
Jamila who stressed the importance of involving the Youths in decision making in the country, further explained that this goes beyond just empowering them to take charge of their lives and improve their access to resources.

According to the Minister, this will enhance rapid development both in policy making and financial autonomy for nation building.

As an immediate response to this agenda, the Minister further stated that in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s eight point agenda which includes youth development, the Ministry of youth development has made a strong case for a 30% inclusion of youth in both policy and cabinet formation at all tiers of government. According to her, this will give more than 60% youth population in the country a sense of belonging while reducing crime and restiveness among the youth.

While indicating the Ministry’s readiness to collaborate with NIPPS,
Jamila Ibrahim also emphasized the concluded arrangements of the Ministry of Youth Development to visit all the youth centers across the country for an on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the challenges as well as looking into how interventions can be made available to them. She also announced the plans of the Ministry to host a National youth conference where the youths will have opportunities to make inputs for the youth roadmap development.

In his remarks, the Director General of the Institute, Professor Ayo Omotayo who led the team disclosed that series of research carried out by the Institute on Nigerian Youths revealed that nobody knows what the Youths really want.

According to him, the Institute is proposing a National Conference where the Youth will be asked what they want and what exactly the country can do for them.
Omotayo expressed worries that Nigerian Youth, being 60% of the population are not part of Policy making in the country.

According to the DG, the purpose of the visit is to look at the possible areas of collaboration between the Institute and the Ministry in the area of Policy making for the Youths, especially at the various sector of the economy where Youth Participation can be involved. The DG thanked Dr Jamila for showing her readiness to collaborate with the Institute.

While stressing the need to have Youth Development Roadmap, Omotayo stated that NIPPS has a platform where policies and strategies are tested.

In his own remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Dr Dunoma Umar thanked the Director General and the entire Management of NIPPS for stretching the hands of fellowship to the Ministry.

Share on Facebook

Featured

Nigeria Will Take Good Shape In No Distant Time- Olawande

Published

5 hours ago

September 16, 2024

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of State for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande has urged the citizens of the country to be patient with the Administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in transforming the lives of its citizens through various policies and programs of the federal government.

The Minister made this submission while delivering his speech at the Joint Union Negotiating Council’s week of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development branch. This is the first edition since both Ministries of Youth and Sports had been damaged. The JUNC week which was held at Atiku Hall, Office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation in Abuja had its theme: “The working people in a volatile, uncertain, and complex economy”

In the words of the Honourable Minister: “I urge you to be patient with this administration. In no distant time, the country will take good shape and the lives of its citizens will be transformed”.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is not a pauper, he is an acknowledged epitome of wealth, and so it cannot be said of him that he desires to loot the treasury of Nigeria. He has seen money and as a result of this, he is not interested in looting the nation’s treasury”, Olawande explained.

He emphasized that “leadership is all about being committed to serve. If you are a Minister now, tomorrow you will be addressed as a former Minister, likewise a Director because there is no permanent position but the impact that you made while in that office will speak after you”, the Minister reiterated.

Olawande expressed his gratitude to the workers of the Ministry for being supportive of the government policies and programs. He promised that the welfare of the staff would not be compromised, adding that workers deserve remuneration for being hardworking.

Earlier in his address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Olubunmi Olusanya admonished the staff of the Ministry to put in their best as “Performance Management System” which replaces APER is the criteria to be used for promotion effective next year. This, according to him is because the Performance Management System (PMS) records the best efforts and input of each staff which will in turn be used to grade such staff.

Olusanya who disclosed that the welfare of the staff is his priority as workers deserve the best for the services rendered. He opined that “the hungry man is angry and as a worker, if you are not treated fairly and properly, it is impossible to get the best out of you. As a result, all staff will be treated properly as motivation to propel the best in you”, he concluded.

The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Esther Didi Walson-Jack, OON, MNI, in her address, informed that the activity to reinvigorate the Civil Service in a bid to ensure that Civil Servants carry out their duties with much diligence to have efficient and incorruptible civil service is currently on course. She advised workers to wake up and be committed to the service of the nation.

In his closing remarks, Mr. Jerry Akume, the General Secretary of the Union expressed his delight in celebrating this year’s edition of the Union week, while highlighting the achievements of the union so far. These include:

Upward review of staff welfare, prompt payment of repatriation allowances, payment of first 28 days allowance, assistance to the sick, general training of staff, and sending forth/retirement package for retired staff.

He also appealed to the Management of the Ministry, saying that irrespective of the aforementioned achievements, a lot still needs to be done in such areas as procurement of staff buses, upward review of welfare payment for festive periods, consistent general staff training, and procurement of office and work materials.

Share on Facebook