By Folorunso Alagbede, in Abuja
The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has tabled eight demands for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider in order to ameliorate the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians, ahead of the August 1 proposed protest.
The eight points demand include: Transparency and accountability, healthcare access, education and skill development, agricultural support, youth intervention program, economic relief Measures, national youth conference and meeting with the National Security Adviser, NSA.
The demands were made at a press conference addressed on Monday in Abuja by Bishop Douglas Kanatapwa, the Vice President (North East) of the NYCN on behalf of the organization’s leadership.
He noted that President Tinubu’s initiatives to enhance the national economy and update obsolete systems have substantially raised the cost of living, creating hardships for many, particularly the youth.
Kanatapwa equally voiced out concern that the NYCN is being excluded from critical national programs and projects that need youth participation.
He emphasized that despite NYCN’s backing of national development and President Tinubu’s strategies, the council has not been invited to participate in essential meetings and discussions.
According to him, “The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) stands for the over 120 million Nigerian youths, both at home and abroad.
“We are here to discuss the planned nationwide hunger protests and share our recommendations with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the economic challenges in Nigeria.
“We recognize President Tinubu’s efforts to improve the national economy and modernize outdated systems.
“However, these changes have significantly increased the cost of living, making life difficult for many, especially the youth.
“Many young people are struggling with unemployment and underemployment.
“These tough conditions have led many youths to support the planned hunger protests. The protest has gained strong backing from various youth leaders.
“Our National Executive Council (NEC), the 36 State Chapters, the FCT, the 774 LGAs, and our 104 affiliate organizations are all feeling the pressure to support the protest. This requires immediate action from NYCN leadership.
“We are also concerned that NYCN is being left out of important national programs and projects that require youth involvement.
“Despite our support for national development and President Tinubu’s plans, NYCN has not been included in key meetings and discussions.
“To address these issues, we have developed the following demands and recommendations to tackle economic hardships and reduce tension:
“Government at the Federal and State levels should swing into action to reduce prices of daily consumable goods like bread, garri, beans, yam, rice etc, to enable the down trodden feed
“Importers of consumable items should be granted granted Tax Holiday immediately to help reduce prices of daily consumable goods.
“A joint National Committee comprising youth representatives, Government Representatives, civil society organizations, labour repesentatives, students’ representatives women representatives, disabled people, farmers association, Manufacturers association and religious leaders etc should be formed and Inaugurated immediately to formulate realistic and conscious measures to cushion the effects of hunger in the land.
“This committee must remain until Nigerians fill the impact they deserve as a Nation”, he said.
Continuing he added: “We request the National Security Adviser (NSA) to meet with a delegation from NYCN to discuss government plans to reduce the high cost of living.
“Following this, we ask for a meeting with President Tinubu to discuss other important national issues that will help maintain peace and order in Nigeria. “These meetings will reinforce NYCN’s role as a bridge between the government and the youth.
“We urgently need a National Youth Conference where government officials and youth leaders from across the country can identify problems and propose both long and short-term solutions.
“We suggest the government start a national youth peer-to-peer program to help reduce support for the planned hunger protest.
“We recommend the government implement immediate economic relief measures such as subsidies on essential goods, job creation programs for youth, and support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to boost employment.
“We urge the government to invest in vocational training and education programs that will equip young people with the skills needed for the modern job market. This includes partnerships with private sector companies to ensure training is aligned with industry needs.
“We recommend the government provide more support to young farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs through grants, loans, and training programs. This can help increase food production and reduce food prices.
“We call on the government to improve access to affordable healthcare, especially for low-income families and the unemployed. This includes expanding the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and increasing funding for public health facilities.
“We urge the government to ensure transparency and accountability in the implementation of economic policies. Regular updates and open communication can help build trust and ensure that resources are being used effectively.
“We recommend improving and subsidizing public transportation to reduce travel costs for working-class Nigerians. Affordable and reliable transportation is crucial for daily commuting and accessing job opportunities.
“We believe that if these demands and recommendations are addressed, it will help alleviate the economic hardships faced by many Nigerians”, he said.
On his part, the President of NYCN, Amb. Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo, said that President Tinubu has proven to have listening ears and hoped he would swing into action and address some of the identified issues within 72 hours.
Sukubo said: “We did wide consultations with members of NYCN from local and state levels and they were all united in complaining about hardship in the country.
“Therefore, we urge Mr President to look into the raised issues. We still have 72 hours to the proposed protest.
“Though he can’t do everything, if he swings into action, Nigerians will be pleased. We want to assure Mr President that as NYCN, we will not disappoint him. We have made known our demands and we hope he will listen to us.”
