APC youth group begs Tinubu to reduce cost of living, unemployment, appoint young Nigerians
An All Progressives Congress (APC) youth organisation, under the umbrella of Progressive League of Youth Voters for Tinubu and Shettima, has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to urgently put measures in place to reduce the rising cost of living in the country.
Although the group described the recent withdrawal of fuel subsidy as a bold step in the right direction, they also urged the President to tackle the high rate of unemployment and ensure appointment of young Nigerians into his cabinet.
They listed unemployment, national security, cconomy, corruption and youth inclusion in appointments as some of the expectations of Nigerians they want to draw the attention of President Tinubu.
Reading from a prepared speech at a press conference and investiture of Ayoola Oyejide as their National Patron, in Abuja on Thursday, national coordinator of the group, Ambassador Abdul Usman Shuaibu, argued that going by the series of unprecedented polices and appointments made in barely one month in office, the President Tinubu-led government has shown that they are square pegs in square holes.
“We are so proud of the President and the vice President because, their leadership activities so far, have justified our support for them before, during and after the elections. Hence the major reason we have the morale to hold this press conference. Their activities have tremendously improved Nigeria’s economy as evident in the Nigerian Stock Exchange and her international reputation,” he noted.
Speaking further, he said: “At least, half of Nigerians are under or unemployed, a figure that rises to two-thirds for young people who make up the majority of the population. The President is expected to tackle this problem and reduce it to the barest minimum.
“The prevailing state of national security in Nigeria is worrisome. The receding Boko Haram insurgency in the North-east is being substituted by banditry and terrorism in the North-west, the North-central is facing the deadly farmer-herder crisis, the South-east is enmeshed in separatist violence and the associated criminal opportunism.
“There is an upswing in gang and ritual activities in the South-west while the South-south is afflicted with militancy, piracy and oil theft. The President should get a grip on these serious security threats.
“Rise in the cost of living is unprecedented and unbearable. The president is expected to revamp our ailing and critically dysfunctional economy. Corruption among public functionaries in Nigeria is endemic. Though the president is strongly opposed to it, we expect him to confront the menace head on, setting an example of transparency and zero tolerance of self-regard.
“Nigeria is blessed with a lot of talented and intelligent youths but are barely given the chance or opportunity to exercise these gifts. Thank God President Tinubu has a very good record of grooming and including youths in governance.
“Therefore, we expect him to continue in that line, most especially, in his subsequent appointment of Ministers, heads of departments and agencies, board members of federal institutions, etc,” the group appealed.
“We are using this platform to assure the President and the vice President of the youth’s support and to also assure the youth that President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima have the strength of character and dedication to mitigate these problems and even exceed our expectations.
“As we can see, they are already adopting a hardline commitment to the principles of democratic good governance (as evident in the fuel subsidy removal), even in the face of reactionary pressures arising from entrenched vested interest,” the youths noted.
The Sun
