By Moses Okorie
The Forum of National Youth Leaders of Political Parties in Nigeria (FNYLPPN) has called for the extension of active youth age bracket in Nigeria from 18-35 to 18-45 years due many factors militating against development of the young people especially at their early stage in life.
This was contained in a communique adopted on Saturday in Abuja during the National Youth Leaders Hangout with journalist, organised by FNYLPPN on the theme, ‘The Place of Nigerian Youth in the 2027 Political Discussion and Beyond, which was read by Miss Jennifer Okechukwu, the secretary to the director-general of the Forum and adopted through affirmation by the participants.
The communique reads in part: “The forum demands that the federal government and all institutions or agencies responsible for the youth related policies, programmes and projects that benefit young Nigerians should also extend their operational youth age bracket from 18 to 35 years to 18 to 45 years, knowing how difficult it is for young people to find their feet early in Nigeria.
“This is necessary to accommodate millions of energetic and productive Nigerians in their late 30s and early 40s who are still actively struggling for economic stability, leadership opportunities and national relevance in youth programmes of their government”.
The event had in attendance the special guest of honour, Minister for Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande; keynote speaker, Senator Shehu Sani who was unavoidable absent and represented by one of his aides, Ms Cecilia; national chairman of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Dr. Yusuf Dantalle.
The session also brought together youth stakeholders, national youth leaders of political parties, FCT youth leaders of political parties, media practitioners, policymakers, and other key stakeholders to deliberate on the theme of the event.
The communique added: “The forum called on all presidential candidates for the 2027 general election and national chairmen of political parties in Nigeria to publicly commit themselves to a clear youth inclusion agenda and demonstrate readiness to support leadership transition to a younger generation by making public, oral, and written promises that they will facilitate the transition of power back to the younger generation under the age of 60 in 2031, if supported in 2027.
“Since it is the political parties that decide who stands a candidate, the forum urges the national chairmen of political parties to adopt and enforce deliberate policies for youth inclusion in party structures outside the single position of the youth leader to enable the youth to participate in candidate selection and internal decision-making processes.
“The forum calls on all political parties in Nigeria to reduce the price of their expression and nomination forms and to grant at least 70 percent discount on expression of interest and nomination forms for youths aged 35 years and below seeking elective positions saying that democracy must not be reserved only for the wealthy.
“The forum calls on the Presidency, National Assembly, Independent National Electoral Commission, political parties and other relevant stakeholders to address the issues of campaign financing, violence and intimidation that disproportionately affects young aspirants through electoral reform.
“The forum expresses great concern over rising unemployment, poverty and hopelessness among Nigerian youths and calls on the Presidency to address youth unemployment using skill acquisition to empower the youth for self-reliance and become job creators, suggesting that President Bola Tinubu establish national youth skills and acquisition and empowerment centers in the 774 local government areas of the 36 states of Nigeria and the six area councils of the FCT”.
On his part, Minister for Youth Development said part of the problems facing the Nigerian youth is lack of coverage to take the bold step. He narrated his life story and how he managed to train himself in school before getting the opportunity to become a minister.
He therefore encouraged the Nigerian youth to participate actively in partisan politics so that they would become part of the decision-making process of country. He also revealed that his ministry is doing a lot to make life better for the young people.