IPU: NASS decries mishandling of youth programmes

The leadership of the National Assembly has strongly condemned the poor handling of youth development programmes in the country by stakeholders who it accused of not ensuring that the programmes are being driven by youths.

The leader of the National Assembly Delegation to the just concluded 134th Inter -Parliamentary Union (IPU), conference in Lusaka, Zambia, and Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Sulaimon ‘Lasun Yusuff, who made the disclosure while delivering a position paper titled ; “Rejuvenating Democracy, Giving Voice to the Youth”, noted the difficulties faced by Nigerian youths while participating in democratic activities

He said: “Young persons have been exploited and used as thugs to perpetrate violence and corrupt electioneering process; many young persons have taken to drug abuse and crime as a result of inadequate employment and social opportunities, thereby becoming a menace to society.

“Commitment on the part of government, political parties, NGOs and other stakeholders to mainstream youth issues is lacking; and in most cases, youth development programmes are not driven by youths, but by adults who pretend to understand the needs of the youths more than themselves.”

Yusuf further observed that financial resources dedicated to the promotion of youth programmes in the country were insufficient, even as the highly monetized political process makes it difficult for young persons to effectively participate.

He, however, noted several policies formulated by successive governments towards ensuring that youths are given a voice in democracy, while assuring that full implementation of such policies, programmes and action plans was in progress.

Said he: “Since independence in 1960, successive Nigerian governments have initiated programmes and projects aimed at the youth.  These range from in-school education programmes for physical and mental development to out-of-school programmes, aimed at shaping the character and behavior of the youth, as well as promoting competitive spirit and national unity and integration’.

“The Nigerian State, within the framework of the National Youth Policy and Strategic Plan of Action, has established a set of clear, firm and formal statements of objectives, targets, programmes, and plans of action and general status, role, well-being, growth and development of the youth’’.

He recalled that the National Youth Service Corps programme launched in 1973, was to promote national unity and integration and expose graduates of tertiary institutions to leadership roles and community development projects before joining the job market.