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Tinubu prioritises youths in first 100 days in office – APC-US Leader
Mr Oyakhilome Bello, the All Progressives Congress (APC) USA National Youth Leader, has commended President Bola Tinubu for giving Nigerian youths priority in his first 100 days in office.
He said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking on Tinubu’s first 100 days in office and youth development in the country.
He noted that Tinubu’s administration has so far focused on inclusivity, empowerment and a forward looking approach to ensure that Nigerian youths were well equipped to lead the nation into a prosperous future.
“From employment creation, skills development, education to digital innovation, financial technology and youth participation in governance.
“Since he took oath of office on May 29 and assumed office, Tinubu has shown that he is a president that is set to give priority to youth development,” the APC-US national youth leader said.
He added that Tinubu did not only ensured the inclusion of youths in his cabinet as Ministers and Special Assistants, but also introduced the Youth Empowerment Scheme (NYES).
This, he said, was aimed at providing vocational training, funding and mentorship for aspiring youth entrepreneurs in the country.
“In his bid to reform the education sector, Tinubu announced a nationwide school rehabilitation programme, focusing on schools in dilapidated conditions and enhancing infrastructure, particularly in underprivileged regions.
“Within the period under review, he launched a digital literacy drive to ensure that secondary school students were introduced to basic computer skills and online resources.
“He also updated school curriculum to emphasise on critical thinking, entrepreneurial skills and civic education. Scholarship programmes were also initiated for deserving students to study both in Nigeria and abroad,” Bello said.
He further noted that the administration launched a digital hub to empower one million youths across the country with digital and related skills in line with the administration’s commitment to providing more digital jobs for Nigerian youths.
“The object is to promote entrepreneurship, skills development and the integration of young employees in the workforce.
“The initiative is aimed at getting one million youths employed in the digital economy who can directly add value to the country’s economy.
“As youths, what else do we want from a government that has so prioritised issues that concerns youths,” Bello said.
He added that besides the expansion of NYSC to include opportunities in emerging sectors like renewable energy, digital marketing and agri-tech, the administration had put in place policies to promote and fund startups, especially those led by young Nigerians.
Bello, while reacting to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warning strike over the removal of fuel subsidy, said calling for strike at this point in time, was not a solution to the country’s challenges.
He added that what was needed was the support, patience and collaborative effort of all stakeholders to enable the government fix the country.
While noting that the removal of fuel subsidy caused some hardship on the people, however said the decision was in the best interest of Nigerains.
He added that while Nigerains had high expectations on the government, they should cooperate with it to enable it work things out.
“This government is on the right path and it is making the right decisions that will give us progress, prosperity and a new Nigeria that we all had hoped for,” he said.
Bello therefore called on Nigerian youths especially to be patient with the Federal Government, adding that Tinubu had started on a good footing, particularly with regards to youth development and employment.
He said all the government needed was time and patience from Nigerians to work things out in the interest of all.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
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