Yiaga Africa harps youth participation in governance
Keziah Yusuf, Gombe
Nigerian Youths have been urged to take ownership of the forthcoming constitutional review across the six geopolitical zones, to make requisite changes.
Speaking at a one day citizen’s roundtable on constitution review and electoral reform organised by Yiaga Africa, on Monday, A facilitator, Barr. Benjamin Sati, said youths would gain alot through active participation.
According to Sati, Citizens input would be implemented when recommendations are not just submitted through one particular means, adding that participants should submit both electronically and manually.
He said laws are subject to changes, noting that this is the first major alteration since 1999, aside periods of amendments.
Sati said, “There is need for youths across all sections to fully participate in this as it particularly geared towards addressing their challenges. Laws are usually subject to change. Public hearing comes when there are issues in contention. It goes beyond the legislature. Pre public hearing discussions helps citizens not to go to such hearings ignorantly.
“Citizens should not just submit recommendations through electronic but manually. There is need to do active follow up with your lawmakers, until he or she takes it personal.”
While lamenting the lapses in the current constitution, he said the problem is application of the laws.
“We have in principle for separation of power but the legislature do not have the political will to do that, because they fear that the will being witch-hunted.
“Constitutionally judiciary is autonomous but for the governors,” Sati added.
Also speaking, Bello Micah, State Focal Person Yiaga Africa said youth participation in electoral process can not be overemphasized.
He said, “We believe that youth participation in Governance, electoral process is important. If you look at the statistics; at the Senate, House of Representatives and State Assemblies, it is not quite much it is not significant. We believe that youths need to engage the process and opportunity should be given to them and one of the ways of doing that is through a constitution and one of the ways of doing that it through easy access to governance.”
He revealed that more youths can be made to be interested in electoral offices, when cost of nomination forms are reduced.
“So that ordinary citizens can afford it at different levels for instance cost of nomination form for the office of president should not be up to 5 million naira, to contest for governorship position it shouldn’t exceed 2million naira. If this tackled more young people can be part of governance, especially women. Yiaga Africa advocates for more women participation and people living with disability.”
