By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
ABUJA: A citizen action organisation, Citizens’ Common, has called on politicians to desist from recruiting and resourcing gangs, cultists and youths for the purposes of perpetrating violence towards winning and destabilizing elections.
The organization which made this call in its report titled “A Nigeria for the Many Not the Few: Our Manifesto for the Nigeria We desire”, which was launched on Tuesday 20th December, 2022 in Abuja, explained that election seasons are one of the flagship points for heightened insecurity because of attendant violence often associated with elections.
They added that as youths, they are interested in a peaceful Nigeria and committed to educating each other to say no to election violence, as well as being ambassadors for peaceful elections in 2023 and beyond.
Speaking at the report launch, the Founder, Impact Central Social Innovation, Olalekan Oshunkoya, noted that a Nigeria for the Many Not the Few was brought about as a result of the fact that Nigeria at its present state, is not working for most people, but working very well for the elites.
He explained that the report addressed issues affecting the Nigeria youth especially in the areas of Employment and Economic Opportunity; Education; Security and Peace; Health, Wellbeing and Social Inclusion; Democracy, Political and Civic Participation; Leadership and Governance; as well as The New Nigeria Dream and Our Unity.
“We are asking, can we begin to think in an audacious way?” Oshunkoya asked, while adding that the report will be used to engage leaders, particularly as we lead up to the 2023 elections and campaigns, in order to know how they will engage with the ideas as well as opportunities shared in the report.
Meanwhile, the report has also called for the reformation of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), as a critical step towards an intentional, and practical job creation strategy for Nigerians.
The one-year mandatory service opportunity it said, should be explored to provide opportunity to fill the skills gaps from their formal education for those interested in seeking employment, and to also provide intensive development training for those interested in self-employment.
“We are not talking about teaching graduates to bake cakes or make adire or sew clothes here. We are talking about a national skills development programme with mentorship that is strategic, coordinated, intensive and backed up with capital to do serious businesses that create employment”, the report announced.
It also proposed automatic life insurance for any fresh graduates while completing national service, so as to provide them with comprehensive life insurance to give some relief for families in case of unexpected loss.
In the area of employment, the report advocated for digital skills training for all, so as to expand opportunities for youths to access the training needed to participate actively within the digital economy, either as employer or employees; adding that digital skills are very essential to the jobs of the future and many youths are losing out because there is limited opportunity to access these important skills within formal and informal education structure.
“This must change, a three-way collaborative intervention with the education providers, private sector and government should focus on declaring a policy on digital skills education for all Nigerian youths”, it explained.
Also, the government was urged to consider providing unemployment insurance for eligible youths until they are employed, as providing a small monthly stipend will go a long way to reduce emotional stress associated with getting educated but not having a job, adding that this idea must be backed by the right legal framework to assure results.
Furthermore, the report while looking at the opportunities and ideas for a ‘New Nigeria’, called for increased funding to primary healthcare centers, to help provide better healthcare centers for the country. It also made a case for access for the disabled, especially in the adoption of a national lifestyle that allows for seamless mobility and access to opportunities.
Meanwhile, discussants at a panel session which was held at the launch, called on the Nigerian youths to go beyond mere talking and chatting on their mobile phones, to being active citizens, participating in the democratic process by collecting their Permanent Voters Cards, exercising their franchise, and demanding improved service delivery from their leaders.
