The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has announced the cancellation of this year’s International Youth Day (IYD) celebrations in solidarity with the #EndBadGovernance protesters who recently lost their lives.
Its President, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubo in a statement issued on Monday said the decision also reflects the profound concern over the severe economic hardship and widespread hunger currently impacting millions of Nigerians.
The youth body noted that it had submitted a detailed position paper to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; the Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Ibrahim and the National Assembly.
The document, it said, contained recommendations to alleviate current hardships and strengthen the role of Nigerian youth in national security intelligence.
It stated: “In light of the ongoing economic crisis—marked by rising inflation, high unemployment rates, and growing discontent among the youth—we believe it is necessary to prioritize addressing these pressing issues over celebratory events.”
It, therefore, called on President Bola Tinubu to consider and act upon the key recommendations, including convening a National Youth Conference to facilitate dialogue between government officials and youth leaders, aimed at identifying critical issues and proposing solutions to the economic challenges.
It further called on the federal government to launch a national peer-to-peer program to reduce support for protests by providing constructive engagement opportunities for the youth.
It stressed that the government should also implement immediate relief measures, including subsidies on essential goods, job creation programs targeting youth, and support for SMEs to boost employment.
The young body urged the government to invest in vocational training and educational programs aligned with industry needs, in collaboration with private sector companies, among others.
The NYCN also urged Tinubu to prioritise those recommendations, adding that swift and decisive action would address immediate economic challenges and restore hope and stability in the nation.
