Youths in Akwa Ibom
State have appealed to the Committee on Youth, Sports and Security of the Akwa
Ibom State House of Assembly to speed up processes that will lead to the public
hearing as well as passage of a bill for a law to Implement a sustainable youth
policy framework through the establishment of Akwa Ibom Youth Development Fund
(AKYDF) into law.
They made their position
known during a press briefing last week, which took place at D’angelo Hotel,
Ewet Housing, Uyo.
It could be recalled
that the bill which was sponsored by the member representing Ini State
Constituency, Hon Emmanuel Ekpenyong had passed first and second reading on the
floor of the House and was ready for a public hearing some months back. But
since then, process on the bill had long been put on hold.
The youths who spoke
under the umbrella of Youth Advocacy Cluster, a coalition of youth groups in
Akwa Ibom State, frowned at the situation on the bill, wondering what could
cause the delay of public hearing on the bill for some mouths now.
In a release signed by
21 youth groups who work to advance youth development and amplify the voices of
youths and issues that affect them namely: Youth Alive Foundation (YAF),
African Human Development Center (AHDC), Save the Constellation of Children
(STCC), Handicap Student Association of Nigeria (HASAN), Care Team Nigeria, The
Unemployed Graduate Development Initiative (TUGDI), National Youth Assembly of
Nigeria (NYAN), Youth for change Initiative (YOFCI).
Others are: Akwa Ibom
Youth Parliament (AKYP), Women Initiative for self-Actualization (WISA), Akwa
Ibom Youth Chambers (AKYC), Hypestation, E-World multimedia, Peace Knowledge
Growth & Love foundation (PEKGLOF), Not Too Young to Run Campaign AKS,
First Massive Literati (FML), Young Activist Initiative of Nigeria, Life Bridge
Development Initiative, Greater Tomorrow Initiative, Anti-Corruption And
Transparency, Support Initiative (ACTSI) and Policy Alert, and made available
to THE INK, the youths said that the said bill had passed first and second
reading and was supposed to be presented before the public for a public
hearing.
According to the
release, “This coalition is anchored by Youth Alive Foundation, a youth focused
CSO which seeks to redefine the role and contribution of the Nigerian youth in
the development and governance processes in the Country.
We are here to brief you
on recent developments on the Akwa Ibom Youth Development Fund (AKYDF) Bill
currently in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly.”
Continuing, “We have
been assiduously working with national, state, local governments,
non-governmental youth organizations, to increase effectiveness on empowering
youths, providing enabling opportunities, and inspiring real positive change.
The complexity and magnitude of challenges facing the Akwa Ibom youth in terms
of employment, empowerment and capacity building is enormous.”
“There are limited
opportunities for youths in the state to earn a sustainable livelihood. Thus,
our cluster after conducting a state wide research developed a sustainable
framework that provides new, authentic avenues for youth development in a
holistic approach. This culminated into a Bill titled Akwa Ibom Youth
Development Fund Bill sponsored By Honorable Emmanuel Ekpeyong, the Chief whip
of the House with 8 Co-sponsors.”
The release further
reads in part, “This Bill ensures that youths are producers, contributors,
creators and leaders and duly empowered, would add more value to the
development of the state and country. Akwa Ibom State Youth Development Fund
will help to create jobs and economic development opportunity through a legally
established, independent and recognised institution saddled solely with this
important responsibility. This bill will also attract funding from
international donors to the tune of more than 1billion naira annually to the
state for youth development.”
They however hinted that
there is a similar initiative as the AKYDF bill adopted by the Lagos state
government on youth intervention of which the Lagos state government has
invested 25 billion under the state employment trust fund for youths.
This commitment, the
youths said has attracted 75% of its funding from other international
development Partners.
The AKYDF Bill was
proposed in October, 2015 as a major instrument to channel international, state
government, public and private participation in solving youth unemployment,
thus creating an enabling and sustainable framework for youth
empowerment.
“As part of our
strategies to achieve this, we have been engaging in a massive campaign through
social media, radio, newspaper and advocacy engagements with legislators which
led to the first reading of the bill in November 2016 and the 2nd reading on
27th April 2017. The bill at the 2nd hearing was committed to the committee on
youth and security and committee on economic development for a deliberation to
report back in 3 weeks after which a public hearing will be called for. Its
been more than eight months now, 245 days yet the committee has not met neither
has there been a public hearing. Other Bills that came up much later have had
their public hearing.”
The youths used the
opportunity to call on the Chairman, House Committee on Youth and Security, Hon
Victor Udofia who is saddled with the responsibility to ensure that the Akwa
Ibom State Youth Development Fund Bill otherwise known as AKYDF Bill receive
optimum attention and a public hearing.
“This coalition is
calling on Honorable Victor Udofia, Chairman, Committee on Youths and Security
and Honorable Udo Kirian Chairman Committee on Economic Planning to act on the
AKYDF Bill and call for a public hearing. Any further delay will lead to
a continued disenfranchisement of the youths of Akwa Ibom State.”
They however,
appreciated the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, His Excellency, Mr Udom Emmanuel
for his support to the youths so far, Speaker of the Akwa Ibom State House of
Assembly, Rt. Hon. Onofiok Luke for his youth friendly disposition support of
the bill as well as the lead sponsor, Hon. Emmanuel Ekpenyong and other
co-sponsors of the bill for championing the course of the bill.
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