A politicalpressure group, the Youth Political Hotspots and the Youth Consultative Forumunder the Leadership of Leadtots and Human Development Services has called onBauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed to consider appointing competent youthsand women to man key ministries, departments and agencies in Bauchi State.
Ina statement signed by Seun Justin Onarinde, Senior Program Officer, Leadtotsand Human Development Services and made available to newsmen in Bauchi, the groupdescribed women and youth inclusion in governance as “low compared to what itwas in the 70s and 80s”.
“There is strongevidence that the participation of young people and women in formal,institutional political processes is relatively low when compared to oldercitizens and male counterparts in previous political administrations in theState. “This challenges the representativeness of the political system andleads to the disenfranchisement of young people and women”, the statement readin part.
The groupdecried that although youths in the country feature prominently duringelections, they were mostly sidelined during appointments.
The group calledon Bala Mohammed to translate resources from young people and women’s strength,ideas, and aspiration into tangible wealth in Bauchi state.
The group says no democratic political system canclaim to be legitimate if youth and women are excluded and disengaged fromdemocratic processes.
WikkiTimes reports that Nigeria has consistentlyover the years sidelined its youths in governance and decision making despitebeing the majority in the country.
The recent ministerial appointees by President
Buhari have reinforced the long cries of youth exclusion in Nigeria’sdemocratic process, with none of the President’s appointees is below 35 years.The Not too Young To Run movement in Nigeria has slammed the President for betraying youths despite promising to factor them in his next cabinet.
