FG THREATENS TO SCRAP YOUTH COUNCIL

The federal government yesterday threatened to scrap the National Youth Council of Nigeria, (NYCN) if the struggle for power among the various factions continues.
The crisis led to the sack of the former youth minister Inuwa Abdulkadir.
Supervising minister of Youth Development, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, made the threat in Abuja at a meeting convened with key youth stakeholders in the country in attendance.
Abdullahi said the federal government would not hesitate to partner with other youth groups if the council fails to serve the interest of the Nigerian youths that they are representing.
He said the federal government is obliged to youths in the country but not to the NYCN, adding that if they cannot help resolve challenges facing youths, government will be forced to partner with other youth organisations.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Tunji Olaopa, while describing the crises as a struggle for power, said the youth would remain emasculated, disenfranchised and insignificant if there is no platform to hear their voice.
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Writers Association (HURIWA) has called on President Goodluck Jonathan to apologise to the former Youth minister Abdulkadir, who he sacked due to the alleged failure to conduct election of the council.
HURIWA’s request for an apology is contained in a statement signed by its national coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko and national media affairs director, Miss Zainab Yusuf.
The association described as “wrongful and deceitful” the sacking of the minister, adding that, the explanation given by the presidency on the matter is “absurd”.
HURIWA expressed disappointment on the handling of the issue, saying that, “President Jonathan will approve the sacking of his cabinet minister ‘Gestapo’ style through a broadcast by a lowly-rated media assistant in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation”, the statement said.