National Issues
2019: Buhari queries youths’ readiness to actively lead Nigeria
SENATOR Abdulfatai Buhari representing Oyo North Senatorial District on Monday queried the youths’ readiness to actively participate in politics just as he expressed concerns over the newly enacted law – ‘Not too young to run’.
Refreshing your memory, the clamour for the younger generation to vie for elective offices in Nigeria got a major boast few months ago when a bill to amend the age requirements to run for office ‘Not too young to run bill’ was laid on the floor of the Senate on July 20th,2017 by the Chairman of the Constitution Review Committee, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and was later passed into law by the Senate on 26th July, 2017 and 27th July, 2017 by the House of Representatives respectively.
The lawmaker, Buhari stated this at a public lecture organised by the National body of the Federation of Oyo State Students Union (FOSSU) held at the Assembly Hall, The Polytechnic Ibadan.
According to the Chairman, Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime there are fears over readiness of youths to take over from the elders as there are questions over whether they have political sagacity to challenge the elders and whether they possess the experience or the wherewithal to deliver.
In his lecture entitled: The Not Too Young To Rule Movement: Issues, Challenges and Prospects in View, Senator Buhari alerted Nigerian youths to the fact that “they need to equip themselves intellectually through training and retraining because leadership positions require sound education and a lot of experience”.
Speaking further, he urged them to take more and meaningful advantage of the internet and social media other than their present arrogance, uncoordinated and unproductive usage.
In his words, “in contrast, today Nigeria youths have lost focus and been relegated to ordinary internet warriors, e-rats, fraudsters and political thugs arguing subjectively, illogically and irrationally in support of their pay masters, ethic and religious colouration. Instead of using it as strength, they have turned it to triviality and use it to blackmail, defraud and all sort of immoralities”.
Senator Buhari also noted that the agitation for the younger generation to vie for elective offices in Nigeria got a major boost few months ago when a bill to amend the age requirement to run for office was passed into law by National Assembly.
In addition, he said the bill has paved way for a new Nigeria where younger people can run for elective positions and participate actively in decision making and nation building, stressing that a society that prepares its youths for the sake of the future aspirations will not only secure her future development but will prepare her next set of leaders with challenges of national unity and development.
He lamented that there are more than 20 African leaders that are aged above 70 years, describing African and mostly Nigerian youths as their own worst enemies. “Looking at their percentage and their numerical strength, they ought to be dictating who gets what, when and how in our political space but are not coordinated and lacks the political will to challenge the elders”.
Charging the youths to position themselves and show leadership qualities, emphasising that power is not served a la carte, Buhari, however enjoined the elders to handover the batton of leadership to the younger generation.
Also, in his remarks, the Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Musa Abdulwasi, who was chairman of the occasion, promised that the House of Assembly will vote overwhelmingly for ‘Not Too Young to Run bill’ when the legislative process begins.
In his closing remarks, the state governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who was ably represented by his Special Assistant on Students, Fatima Hassan commended the students for organising such a programme that could spur youths into leadership. Ajimobi said the government would always put student matters at the fore front of policy decisions.
The event marking this year’s 57th Independence anniversary had in attendance, the Caretaker Chairman of Itesiwaju Local Government, Hon. Niyi Adeagbo; former Special Adviser to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo; Special Assistant to the Governor on Statistics, Ayuba Mayowa; Caretaker Chairman, Ogbomoso South West LCDA, Hon. Adeyemo Adedeji Abiodun; Former Chief of Staff, Razak Gbadegesin among others.
Engr. Aderemi Oseni, representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency of Oyo State in the House of Representatives, has called for a prompt investigation into the increasing occurrences of building collapses in major cities across Nigeria.
In a motion presented to the House on Wednesday, Oseni expressed deep concern over the alarming frequency of building collapses, emphasising the threat they pose to the lives and property of Nigerians.
The APC lawmaker, through a statement by his media aide, Idowu Ayodele, cited the recent collapse of a two-storey school building at Saint Academy in Busa Buji, Jos, Plateau State, on July 12, 2024. The tragic incident, which trapped 154 people and claimed 22 lives, is the latest in a series of similar disasters, raising serious concerns nationwide.
Oseni also referenced a report from The Punch newspaper, which revealed that Nigeria had recorded 135 building collapse incidents between 2022 and July 2024.
“This figure is alarming and unacceptable,” he stated, stressing the urgency of preventing further occurrences.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Oseni reminded the House that the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) and other relevant professional bodies are responsible for ensuring compliance with building standards and practices.
“Despite these regulatory frameworks, the recurring collapses suggest that enforcement is lacking. The loss of lives, properties, and resources is staggering, and this disturbing trend must be addressed immediately,” he remarked.
He proposed the formation of an Adhoc Committee to investigate the underlying causes of these collapses and recommend both immediate and long-term solutions.
Also, he urged the House Committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure swift implementation of any recommendations.
The House agreed to deliberate on the motion and is expected to present its findings and proposed actions within eight weeks.
The Vice-chairman of the Oyo Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has expressed deep concern over the increasing involvement of religious leaders in material pursuits, accusing them of abandoning their spiritual duties in favour of wealth and influence.
Oba Alao, who is also the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, made this statement during a visit from the leadership of the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement “Ayo Ni O,” led by Baba Aladura Prophet Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo, at his palace in Surulere Local Government on Thursday.
The monarch accused some religious leaders of sharing part of the blame for the moral and political crises that have engulfed the nation. According to him, spiritual leaders, once seen as the moral compass of society, have become compromised by corruption, aligning themselves with the very forces they should condemn.
Oba Alao was unapologetic in his criticism, stating, “Ninety-five percent of Nigerian leaders, both political and religious, are spiritually compromised.”
He argued that this moral decay among clerics has made it impossible for them to hold political leaders accountable or speak the truth to those in power, as their integrity has been eroded by their pursuit of material wealth.
“Carnality has taken over spirituality. Our religious leaders can no longer speak the truth to those in authority because their minds have been corrupted. Most of the so-called General Overseers (G.O.) are corrupt and perverted,” Oba Alao added.
He stressed that this shift towards wealth accumulation at the expense of spiritual values has greatly contributed to the country’s stagnation in development and social justice.
Olugbon urged both religious leaders and traditional rulers to reflect on their actions, reminding them that they would be held accountable for their stewardship, both in this world and the next.
“The prayers of sinners are an abomination before God, hence the need for our leaders to rethink,” he warned.
The monarch concluded by reiterating the transient nature of power and the importance of staying true to sacred duties, regardless of the temptation to indulge in worldly gains. “I am a traditional ruler. I don’t belong, and will never belong, to any occultic groups,” he emphasised, drawing a clear line between his position and the corrupt practices of some leaders.
In response to the Cherubim and Seraphim Church Movement’s request for collaboration on community development projects, Oba Alao assured them of his support.
“Your requests are aimed at the development of the Orile Igbon community. I am assuring you that necessary assistance will be provided in this regard.”
Earlier, Prophet Alogbo requested the monarch’s collaboration on a range of community development projects. These initiatives include the establishment of a women and youth empowerment center, clean drinking water initiatives, a bakery, animal production facilities, and farm produce processing.
Other proposals included a diagnostic and medical center, a full-size recreational sports facility, and a home care facility for the elderly.
The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigeria’s unemployment rate increased to 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2024. The latest figures were disclosed in a report released by the NBS on Tuesday, marking an uptick from the 5.0 per cent recorded in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023.
According to the NBS, the unemployment rate for males stood at 4.3 per cent, while females experienced a higher rate of 6.2 per cent during the same period. The report also highlighted disparities based on location, with urban areas recording a 6.0 per cent unemployment rate compared to 4.3 per cent in rural areas for Q1 2024.
“The unemployment rate for Q1 2024 was 5.3%, showing an increase from 5.0% recorded in Q3 2023,” the bureau stated in its report. The NBS defines the unemployment rate as the percentage of the labour force, including both employed and unemployed individuals, who are not working but are actively seeking employment.
Youth Unemployment Rate Declines
In a positive development, the report indicated a slight drop in youth unemployment, which fell to 8.4 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 8.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This figure represents the unemployment rate among Nigeria’s young people, a demographic that often faces unique employment challenges.
Educational Attainment and Unemployment
The report further provided insights into unemployment rates based on educational attainment. Individuals with postgraduate education recorded the lowest unemployment rate at 2.0 per cent, while those with post-secondary education faced a rate of 9.0 per cent. For people with secondary education, the rate stood at 6.9 per cent, and those with only primary education recorded a 4.0 per cent unemployment rate.
Employment-to-Population Ratio Falls to 73.2%
In addition to the unemployment data, the NBS also reported a decline in Nigeria’s employment-to-population ratio, a critical indicator of workforce participation. The ratio dropped to 73.2 per cent in Q1 2024, down from 75.6 per cent in Q3 2023. This ratio represents the percentage of the working-age population that is employed.
Breaking the data down by gender, the employment-to-population ratio for males was 74.2 per cent, while it was 72.3 per cent for females. By place of residence, urban areas had an employment-to-population ratio of 69.5 per cent, while rural areas recorded 78.9 per cent in Q1 2024, compared to 71.1 per cent and 80.7 per cent in Q3 2023, respectively.
