By Chioma Nnodim
President Bola Tinubu has been keeping to the 30 percent affirmative action in youth inclusion in governance.
Pioneer Head of Service, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Dr. Samuel Udo Atang said this when a coalition of youth organizations paid him a courtesy visit in his Abuja office on Thursday.
Atang who noted that he was always delighted whenever youths gather for productive purposes, added: “what happened here today is part of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. We are all part of the youth…..and the President has actualized the 30 percent affirmative action on youth inclusion in governance.”
He disclosed that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike “has a well-articulated programme for youths in the FCT”, adding that the Minister was a man of his words.
According to him, the Minister since coming on board engaged in enlightenment of FCTA staff on the President’s agenda which has measurable deliverables with set plans, programmes and targets clearly articulated, “and the youths form the bulk of it.
“The Minister has repeatedly told contractors to employ the youths in the communities where they have a sites. He has always insisted that youths from the communities must be the ones you employ first to supply you with every little thing you need, because they must out food on their table.”
Atang expressed delight over the action of the youths, saying: “And the happiness again is underscored by the fact that the youths of Nigeria have now come out so strong in terms of entrepreneurship, ICT, banking sector, industrial sector all over the world they.
“I wish to commend you and commend your initiatives. As for the youths that are gathered here today, I want to say a big thank you to you for your steadfast support to the FCT Administrations over the year. “What you are doing here today is not new because of the series of support you have been giving to successive FCT Administrations.
“Each time the opportunity beckons on you to defend the FCT, to support the FCT, you have never failed us.”
Some of the youth leaders who spoke earlier praised President Bola Tinubu for Wike’s appointment, adding that the Minister has started very well by making landmark transformations within few months of resumption.
One of the leaders of the original inhabitant youths in the FCT, Comr. Yusuf Yunusa, commended the Minister for already addressing some of the major challenges in the FCT.
Yunusa pledged the continued support of the FCT Administration, saying: “We are ready to assist the government on issues of security, sensitization of the communities on activities and programmes of government to enlist their support.”
He appealed for the appointment of a youth aide to the Minister with the nomination and knowledge of the FCT youths so that such appointmentee would understand bthe language of youths in the Territory.
Corroborating Yunusa, President-General, Abuja Residents Youth Association Com. Akoshile Mukhtar, pledged the loyalty of the youths to the FCT Administration and urged the Minister to continue making youths greater part of his administrationadministration. Mukhtar also solicited support of the Administration in many other areas, including regular interface in town hall meetings, among others.
