NASS member faults recycling of political appointees by governments

The member representing Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Dr. Pat Asadu, has blamed governments on the appointments of old politicians who, having been in power years back, are today still being paraded as ministers saying the process negates the slogan ‘Youths are the Future Leaders.’

Asadu who stated this in an interview with newsmen while attending the 2017 Anglican youth conference in Nsukka, noted that the positions which youths are to occupy are still been held by old politicians.

He said: “It is unfortunate because the lack of space for the youths is what is widening the gap of unemployment in the country today. That same people who held government appointments as ministers 40years ago are still occupying appointments today thereby denying youths the opportunity of employment.”

Dr. Asadu attributed the problem of Nigeria to leadership failure in politics, academia, religion and in the family.

“If mothers and fathers are good leaders in their homes, they would bring up their children in the fear of God and their children will in turn contribute positively to national development.

 “Our problem is that when we talk about leadership our minds only go to the president, governors, National Assembly members and ministers forgetting that leadership starts from our homes.

 “We should stop this blame game and lookout for solution to re-position our country and empower our youths so that they can effectively takeover as future leaders,” he said.

Asadu however said that the reason why he stopped his empowerment scheme was because most beneficiaries ended up misusing it.

“I now find it difficult in empowering the not-too-educated because the value system is upside down, the vision-mission is wrong.

“If you give them money, they rush to the beer-palour and start drinking with the money given them instead of investing it in business to yield more profit.

“I used to share motorcycles and cars to youths but they end up misusing them, that is why I stopped,” he lamented.

He commended the Anglican Church for organizing the conference which, according to him is aimed at re-orientating youths to enable them to make a sustainable living.

“Today many people are on my scholarship scheme the same way people helped to finance my study when I was in school”, he said.

The lawmaker blamed the inability of graduates to secure employment on dysfunctional education adding that a closer look on school curriculum shows that it is tailored around academics and not on skill acquisition.

“In the past before one finishes NYSC, jobs are already waiting but today you see a medical doctor applying for employments in banks as a teller and a marketer,” he said.