Yobe: Research centre seeks 50% political position for youths

Yobe state government has been called upon to declare executive order
in allocating 20-50 per cent political positions to youths so as to increase their participation and chart ways for their role in governance.

This was the outcome of a round table meeting and research findings
conducted by the Centre for Research, Innovation and Linkages, Yobe
State University.

The research ‘Political exclusion, youth restiveness and conflicts’
was supported by Managing Conflicts in Northeast Nigeria (MCN)
programme funded by the European Union, aimed at reawakening
stakeholders and actors on the need to clearly identify and agree on
roles capable of increasing youth participation in governance.

The Lead Researcher, Prof. Yakubu Muktar, who is also the Vice
Chancellor, Yobe State University among other members recommended
purposeful advocacy to the State Executive Council by youth groups,
civil society organizations, research centres among others.

The research also recommended, “In order not to breach provisions
of the constitution and electoral act, the affirmative action or
policy should beg the eligibility to contest for councillorship and be
appointed as supervisory councilor at the local government levels to
be exclusively for youths.”

It further seeks other electives positions at the state and national
levels to be left open for all people irrespective of whether they are
youths or not.

Other recommendations made were intensive training for youths
periodically so as to enhance their capacity on the principles of participation.

The round table was attended by youth groups, civil society
organizations, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC),
National Orientation Agency (NOA), State House of Assembly among others.

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