The Speaker of the House of Representatives Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has tasked the national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Wing to come up with a comprehensive agenda for the Nigerian youth.
The Speaker said the House would be willing to key into the agenda once the APC youth wing was able to bring it up, noting that the House recognises the importance of the youth.
Gbajabiamila, who said he believes in youth inclusiveness in governance, noted that the Nigerian youth have great potential that if well harnessed, could help the country a great deal.
Gbajabiamila spoke when the APC Youth Wing led by the National Youth Leader, Sadiq Abubakar, paid him a courtesy call in his office on Tuesday.
“I thank you for finding it worthy of visiting the people’s House. As you said, 60 to 70 per cent of the population comprises of youth, so when you come together, you’ll do a lot of things. If we don’t forget, it was the youth that came together to put in the first black president in America. History was made.
“It was the same youth, either rightly or wrongly, that sat and determined the Brexit issue in the UK. So, whatever the youth do, whether they sit back or they push, it will have an effect. We recognise your importance.
“Moving forward, if you are able to put together a good, comprehensive position paper that you want us to see and act on as legislators, beyond politics, that’s what I think you should do.
”Let’s know where we can come in so that we can work together as a party and as a country. You’re recognised even by God in the future of any country. I’m bursting with ideas, but I need yours too.
“You need to sit down and give us your agenda. I have a SA on Youth Matters, that’s how important we consider you. From what I’ve seen so far, you guys are doing a great job. I want us to raise the bar so that we won’t be seen as just youth of a political party, but the youth of the entire country,” the Speaker said.
Gbajabiamila, who urged the APC youth to involve women in their activities, said the House has an open-door policy for Nigerians, noting that most of the constituency projects lawmakers embark on are geared towards the young ones.
Earlier, the APC national youth leader, Abubakar, said they were at the speaker’s office to thank and appreciate him for the good things he has been doing for the Nigerian youth.
“We also want to intimate you on the activities of the APC youth wing. We want to have a synergy with your office. We want to see how you can help us to carry out our activities to develop the youth.
“We want to let you know about our plight. The House is an institution that enhances policies. We feel policies should be made for us to be protected. We want you to support us by being an ambassador to the Nigerian youth. We want you to put much more efforts to make every Nigerian understand that the youth is important.”
Signed:
Lanre Lasisi
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Speaker, House of Representatives, Nigeria.
