Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, listens, understands, and is committed to transforming Nigeria into a country that works for young people.
Abbas said this at a town hall meeting with youth groups and organisations at the National Assembly on Wednesday.
He said the President has demonstrated this commitment through significant interventions.
“For instance, he approved a substantial intervention fund of N683 billion for public tertiary institutions for the 2024 cycle, aimed at improving the quality of education.
“The establishment of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) through the Access to Higher Education Act, 2024, provides interest-free loans to students pursuing higher education and vocational training.
“Additionally, the President announced an ambitious plan to empower micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with a N125 billion infusion.
“Just this Monday, the President signed the new minimum wage bill into law, setting a national minimum wage of N70,000. Recall that the National Assembly passed that Bill in record time.
“You have also heard from some Honourable Ministers and Heads of Government Agencies on some of their programmes and projects geared towards the economic and social inclusion of Nigerian Youths. Your voice matters, and we are listening,” Abbas said.
The Speaker said the 10th Assembly, conscious of the issues faced by our youth from the onset, has outlined comprehensive legislative measures to address these challenges.
He said their legislative agenda focuses on economic revitalisation, social justice, governance reforms, and national security through robust legislative activity, inclusive public engagement, and comprehensive capacity-building initiatives.
Abbas said in the last one year, they have also performed several oversight activities, including public hearings, interactive meetings, and attending to public petitions, amongst others.
He said the 10th House also held sectoral retreats, sectoral briefings, the House Open Week, and the Budget Townhall meeting to meet the yearnings of Nigerians.
Equally, he said, the 10th House created two standing committees, namely Committees on Youth Development and Youths in Parliament, to effectively coordinate youth affairs and ensure the inclusion of young people in the legislative processes of the House.
All these, Abbas said, show that the legislative measures reflect a deep understanding of your unique needs and aspirations.
The speaker pledged to take the resolutions of the town hall to President Tinubu along with representatives of the youth organisations.
“Together, we will ensure that your concerns are addressed and that we build a better Nigeria. Your voice matters, and we are listening,” he said.
He assured that the government is acutely aware of the issues raised by the youths and has been actively working on multiple fronts to address them.
“Several agricultural initiatives have been launched to combat hunger, boost local food production, and reduce import dependency. Recent measures by the President on import waivers for food are all part of a broader strategy to ensure that no Nigerian goes to bed hungry.
“Additionally, the government has invested in modern farming techniques and infrastructure to ensure farmers have the resources to increase yield and profitability. Your voice matters, and we are listening.
“Addressing economic hardship is a priority for this administration. We understand the economic challenges and are already implementing specific interventions. The removal of the fuel subsidy, while necessary to eliminate a corrupt and harmful scheme, has come with measures to cushion its effects.
“Several government intervention schemes are intended to provide urgent economic relief for Nigerians. The government is also implementing policies to stabilise the economy and control inflation. For example, subsidies on essential commodities have been adjusted to make them more accessible to the average Nigerian.
“The federal government has successfully reversed some negative economic indices (such as Ways and Means) and improved some critical positive ones (such as growth in agriculture, industries, etc) that underpin our economic prosperity.
“Additionally, efforts to diversify the economy, particularly through investments in technology, CNG programme, Distributed Renewable Energy access, and manufacturing, are aimed at creating jobs, reducing dependency on imported goods, and lowering living costs,” he said.
The speaker said the House’s first-year scorecard shows that most of the motions focused on social sector reform and development, including social welfare, healthcare, education, energy, infrastructure, and other essential services critical for societal well-being.
Abbas said on the matter of insecurity, which encompasses the protection of farmers, ending police brutality, and addressing broader security issues, they acknowledged the complexity and urgency of these challenges.
He said the government has intensified efforts to secure rural areas by deploying additional security personnel, purchasing equipment, and establishing the National Livestock Transformation Plan to reduce farmer-herder conflicts.
He added that the government is also implementing several police reform initiatives to curb police brutality and restore public confidence.
The speaker pointed out that recent statistics show a decline in violent crime rates in several regions, indicating that these measures are beginning to yield positive results.
He said: “Addressing governance issues such as the cost of governance, electoral reforms, and constitutional and judicial reforms is also a priority. The Tinubu administration has taken significant steps to streamline government operations and reduce wastage, including implementing recommendations from the Oronsaye Report. The House has also created an ad-hoc Committee to oversight its implementation.
“The recent Supreme Court decision to grant local governments autonomy is a landmark achievement, enhancing local governance and accountability. Furthermore, the ongoing review of the Electoral Act and the processes for appointing judges demonstrate our commitment to ensuring fair and transparent elections and a robust judicial system.
“The House has established a committee that supports these initiatives through legislative measures, ensuring that our governance framework is efficient and effective. As reflected in our scorecard, 83 motions (12.2%) moved from June 2023 to June 2024 were focused on good governance.
“These motions aimed to enhance government operations’ transparency, accountability, and efficiency. The House also passed 13 bills related to good governance and economic growth and development and 8 bills targeting law reform.
“Great Nigerian youth, distinguished guests, undoubtedly corruption remains a significant obstacle to our national development. But both the legislature and the Executive are committed to eradicating this scourge.
“We call for greater accountability at sub-national levels, which the recent autonomy granted to the local government at the grassroots level is expected to drive. Your voice matters, and we are listening.
“Esteemed youths, your role in nation-building cannot be overstated. It is crucial to be responsible, dutiful, and invested in self-development while shunning vices that have sadly become associated with Nigerians,” he said.
Abbas said expressing grievances or calling for protest is only the first step in the dialogue chain.
He said the town hall is a platform for frank, respectful, and constructive engagement.
“It is important to be rebels with a cause rather than anarchists. You are responsible for proving your critics wrong by demonstrating a commitment to constructive engagement.
“It is crucial to understand that meaningful reform often requires time and consensus, particularly for issues embedded in statutory and constitutional frameworks. Incremental change is vital, and your engagement is essential. We must work together on a sustained, step-by-step basis to address our challenges and achieve the Nigeria we all aspire to see.
“I urge our youth to actively participate in the democratic process, work through the National Assembly, and push for reforms. The House is the most representative Assembly in Nigeria, representing 360 Federal Constituencies. We represent every Nigerian, young and old. You have elected us to serve you and must trust us to do the job together,” the Speaker said.
President of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Sukubu Sari-Egbe, said though youths were not happy with the situation in the country, they would not burn it down.
Represented by his Deputy, Amb Innocent Nduanya, he said: “The youths are not happy. There is desperation. But we cannot burn down our country. We must all work hard to sustain the unity we have enjoyed so far in the country.”
Among the requests transmitted to the House for onward transmission to the President, was a call for electronic voting.
They urged the President to work hard to ensure a country that works for all.
Also speaking, the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, said job creation is the primary objective of President Tinubu
She said the President has taken bold initiatives to fix the country which would take time to manifest.
She said: “It takes time to build. Even if you are building a house, no matter how small it is you must build the foundation. Those were the foundations that the economy had to through before we began to build the blocks.
“We have seen the construction of major infrastructure across the country. It would take some time before we begin to see the impact of major reforms and investments coming in.
“Job creation is the primary objective of President Tinubu. He promised 50 million jobs and we have set out to create them. For you to establish any manufacturing hub, you need skills. Skills development is critical,” she said.
Also, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Ali Pate, said all hands must be on deck to achieve the country Nigerians desire.
He said the town hall was an important conversation that was needed to build the country.
He said: “It has to be all of us together. The Federal Government under the present administration ought to join hands to make Nigeria what it ought to be. Only Nigerians can build Nigeria across party lines.
“All of us must join hands. The president has a vision of prosperity for this country. A vision that has our economic growth faster than our population growth rate. If we don’t grow our economy faster than our population we will be poorer.
“Now we have a president who has a vision which is articulated and he has people at the centre of that vision, human capital. It is about the youth. The youths of today and tomorrow.
“That is why the human capital agenda is so important to this administration. He has done a lot to help us turn the corner in terms of the macro-fiscal situation which we got in 2023.
“The President is embarking on fundamental political reforms like local government autonomy, really tangible steps building back Nigeria piece by piece. Also, there is the Minimum Wage Act and others. All facets of Tinubu’s government are kicking in high gear to deliver for the country.”
The All Progressives Congress (APC), National Youth Leader, Dayo Israel, urged that the government should be more proactive in dealing with issues that concern the people, instead of ways being reactionary.
He said youths were not happy with the state of things in the country, but assured that the President was committed to fixing it.
“We are passionate about the future of the young people of the country. The youths want to see a country filled with unity, where there is peace and justice. They want to stop travelling out but stay back home to build a Nigeria that works for all.
“Youths want to stay back home because there is nowhere like home. As much as we are angry, we want a Nigeria that works. Tinubu is committed to ensuring the country works. The president means well for the country.
