HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES TO ENGAGE NIGERIAN YOUTHS TWICE ANNUALLY, OFFERS JOBS TO GROUPS 31-07-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr. Tajudeen Abbas, says the Green Chamber would hold dialogue with the Nigerian youth twice a year to hear their plight on a continuous basis with a view to addressing them.
At town hall meeting with various youth groups and organisations drawn from across the country at the National Assembly Complex, the Speaker pledged that the House would give four slots of Senior Legislative Aides to the various youth groups to serve as a link between the House and the Nigerian youth.
Dr. Abbas promised to take all the issues raised by the youth groups to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for consideration and possible resolution.
“Addressing you today is one of the most important functions I have undertaken as the Speaker of the House of Representatives. As a father, I am driven by a desire to leave a better Nigeria for my children and their children. It is also my dream for all of you.
“Our purpose today is not to intimidate, entice, buy off, or stifle your constitutionally enshrined powers of free expression. Rather, it is to create a formal avenue of regular engagement, ensuring that your voices are heard at the highest levels of government. My message to you today is that ‘your voice matters, and we are listening.”‘
On the planned protest, the Speaker told the Nigerian youth that they have the right to embark on such an action, but however noted that in most cases, protests do not solve problems, especially If they are hijacked by hoodlums.
He urged all stakeholders to work together on a sustained, step-by-step basis to address the nation’s challenges and achieve the Nigeria we all aspire to see.
The Speaker pointed out that addressing economic hardship is a priority for the current administration.
The representatives of the youth groups in their separate presentations while calling for urgent action on the part of the government, expressed concerns on the difficulties being faced by Nigerians.
Prominent among the groups at the town hall meeting were the National Youth Council of Nigeria; Nigerian Youth Parliament; Youth Crisis Awareness and Peace Forum; Northern Nigeria Students’ Forum; Active Youth Group; Nigeria Youth Organization; Niger Delta Youth Parliament; Youth Assembly of Nigeria; Nigeria Youth Future Fund; Northern Youth Democratic Agenda; West Africa Youth Congress; Anglican Youth Fellowship; Arewa Youth Forum; ILEAD Africa; Obiama Uboma Youth Forum; Abuja Original Inhabitants’ Students’ Forum, among many others.