The Youth Correspondents Association of Nigeria (YCAN) has pin-pointed some crucial issues that desire immediate attention in the Ministry of Youth Development.
In the statement by the YCAN Secretary General, Caleb Ayansina, this came on the heels of the appointment of a new Minister, Alhaji Boni Haruna to steer the affairs of the ministry.
According to the statement, there is a standing crises in the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), adding that the Citizen and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), and other youth centers needed to be given urgent attention.
“As correspondents assigned to cover the ministry, we are familiar with its activities and issues that need to be addressed to realize the government’s transformation agenda. We therefore want to use this opportunity to call the attention of the Minister to some of the problems confronting the Nigerian Youths that demands urgent and immediate actions, believing that as an experienced leader these would be tackled headlong.
“The first is the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) which is a cesspool of controversy. The current state of the council is a disgrace to the nation both locally and internationally. The inability of the youth to elect a substantial president is a major challenge of the council. What this implies is that the current set up in the council did not represent the generality of the youth as four different persons are currently claiming to be the president,” the statement said.
“We also want to draw your attention to the youth centres that are laying waste across the country; this should be looked into with a view to complete and keep them running. There is also need for proper collaborations with and coordination of other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on youth empowerment programmes. The situation where other MDAs run programmes on youth development without the input of the ministry is abnormal.
“We wish you also look into the issue of Citizen and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC), as this parastatal seems not to be living up to its responsibilities. There is need to look into the challenge of the centre and ensure that it fulfill its mandate to the Nigeria people, the youth especially. On the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), the scheme should be empowered to do more. It would be wise, if Federal Executive Council (FEC) can be persuaded to instruct other ministers to work seriously with the NYSC to make its programmes felt by Nigerians,” it added.
The statement further urged the Minister to endeavor to make ministry of agriculture to collaborate with NYSC on the youth in agriculture programme of the federal government, adding that it is unwise to leave an institution which has over 250,000 youths under its care yearly out of such programme.
However, YCAN also called on the Minister to prioritize youth development over politicking, saying Nigeria youth needed a focused, sincere and pragmatic Minister in the ministry.
