By Joseph Edegbo
ActionAid Nigeria (AAN), an NGO, has called for the immediate revival and passage of the Nasarawa State Youth Development Commission bill by the State House of Assembly.
The bill was initiated and had passed second reading in the 6th Assembly but could not scale through the final reading before the expiration of their tenure.
Mr Aliyu Adamu, the Programme Coordinator, Systems and Structure Strengthening Approach Against Radicalisation to Violent Extremism ( SARVE 3 ) project of ActionAid Nigeria, made the call on when the organisation visited the Speaker of the Nasarawa House of Assembly, Mr Danladi Jatau to seek his support on the bill.
Adamu, explained that the call became imperative considering his organisation’s efforts towards ending poverty and youth restiveness in Nasarawa State.
According to him, the Youth Development Commission bill is not just another piece of legislation but a crucial and timely initiative designed to address the pressing issues of youth restiveness, unemployment, and lack of opportunities that our young people face daily.
He said: “By establishing a Youth Development Commission, this bill aims to create jobs, empower our youth, and reposition Nasarawa State as the youth hub of the nation.
“ActionAid is leveraging experiences and successes seen in her work and other partners in Kogi and Benue, where similar bills have been passed, and currently demonstrating the transformative impact such legislation can have.
” The passage of the bill in Nasarawa will provide a legal framework for effective youth empowerment initiatives, ensuring our young people are engaged in productive activities, thereby reducing poverty and preventing violent extremism.
“This bill is crucial for addressing youth restiveness, unemployment, and lack of opportunities in our state.
“By passing this bill, you will demonstrate your commitment to the future of Nasarawa’s youth, creating a legal framework that will provide them with the opportunities they need to thrive and contribute positively to society.
“The youth of Nasarawa are looking to their leaders for support, guidance, and opportunities. By revisiting and passing this bill, the Assembly will be taking a significant step towards securing a brighter future for our youth and, by extension, for our entire state.”
Adamu, while commending the proactive efforts of the State House of Assembly in considering this bill in the past, urged the 7th Assembly to prioritise it once more in order to ensure its passage into law.
He also appealed to Gov. Abdullahi Sule to assent to the bill and ensure its implementation when finally passed by the lawmakers.
Responding, the Speaker, Jatau, described youths as the pillar of the nation and pledged the support of the Assembly to enact laws that would address their needs.
“I am a youth advocate and have been supporting youths in my constituency because they are the backbone of every society, thus, they must have a place in governance,” he said.
Jatau expressed sadness that the bill for the establishment of the Nasarawa Youth Development Commission, which was initiated by the former Deputy Speaker, Mr Nehemiah Dandaura, could not scale through third reading during the last Assembly.
The speaker, however, assured that the Chairman House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, Alh. Mohammed Isimbabi, would take over the bill to enable its passage into law.
He assured that the bill when passed into law, would be assented to by Gov. Sule, whom he described as a youth-friendly governor.
On his part, the Chairman House Committee on Youth and Sports Development, Isimbabi, commended the youths for their resilience amidst challenges.
He assured them of his commitment to revive the bill to enable its passage.
ActionAid Nigeria had earlier implemented SARVE 2 Project in the State with funding from the Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF) to prevent violt extrem ism in the state.