On the heels of the August 1-10 #EndBadGovernance protests, which saw massive arrests, alleged brutalization, killings and incarceration of protesters across the country, President Bola Tinubu, in his National Day broadcast, on October 1, announced the Federal Government?s plan to host a National Youth Conference to address the protesters? demands.

Meanwhile, three months later, Nigerians are still waiting for the confab that Tinubu said would last 30 days. Civil Society Organisations, CSOs, in separate interviews with Sunday Vanguard, react.

Confab out of radar ? OLF

The Founder and President, One Love Foundation, Chief Patrick Eholor, said Youth Confab is no longer on Tinubu?s radar.

Eholor said: ?The promise made by President Bola Tinubu to hold a Youth Confab to engage with young people for 30 days, in the wake of the #EndBadGovernance protest, seems to have been sidelined.

?This was a critical opportunity to hear directly from the youth, who are facing the brunt of the nation?s systemic failures, from unemployment to lack of basic amenities. Instead of following through on his pledge, we have seen a deafening silence.

?Young people continue to demand accountability, good governance, and a seat at the table, but the absence of tangible action in response to their voices is not just disappointing; it is a betrayal of their hopes for a better future. As human rights activists, we stand firm in holding the government accountable for its promises to ensure that the youth are not just tokenized but truly empowered.

?The delay in fulfilling President Tinubu?s promise to hold a Youth Confab raises serious concerns about his commitment to addressing the plight of young people in Nigeria. If the government was truly concerned about the demands of the youth, this engagement would have been a priority, especially given the widespread frustration expressed through the #EndBadGovernance protests and other grassroots movements.

?The youth have long been the most vocal critics of Nigeria?s failing systems, particularly when it comes to corruption, unemployment, and lack of opportunities. ?A genuine leader would have recognized this as an urgent call for action, not a matter to be delayed or forgotten. Unfortunately, the continued silence and delay in addressing the core issues faced by young people paint a picture of a leadership that may be more interested in maintaining the status quo than effecting the real, transformative change that is needed.

?In this context, it?s hard to say that President Tinubu is truly committed to the youth?s demands unless we see meaningful steps to engage, listen, and act on the issues at hand. The youth need more than just empty promises?they need concrete policies, actions, and opportunities for participation in shaping their future.

?If Tinubu is serious about his commitment, he must prioritize youth-led discussions and, more importantly, take the necessary steps to address their concerns, not just as a political talking point but as a genuine part of his administration?s agenda.?

Executive Director, Global Rights Nigeria, Abiodun Baiyewu, said Tinubu?s pronouncement on his October 1 Independent Day broadcast of holding a Youth Confab for 30 days was merely to douse rising tension and prevent another protest.

Baiyewu said: ?It is important to situate the promise of the youth confab within its original context.

?At the time President Bola Tinubu made this pledge in his October 1 Independence Day broadcast, we were always sceptical about its sincerity?not because we do not support youth engagement in the civic space, as we are champions of ensuring that Nigerian youth, who make up around 70 per cent of the population, are both seen and heard in governance and civil spaces.

?Rather, our skepticism stemmed from the timing and circumstances surrounding the promise. It felt like a strategic move to douse rising tensions and prevent another wave of protests following the #EndBadGovernance demonstrations.

?Global Rights had spoken publicly at the time, expressing hope that this proposed confab would not devolve into yet another forum for political elites to reward themselves and their associates with allowances.

?Nigeria?s history with such gatherings has often left citizens disillusioned, as the outcomes rarely translate into meaningful change for those they are purportedly intended to serve.

?With or without the confab, our position remains clear: Nigeria?s democracy must become more representative, inclusive, and participatory.

?This involves restructuring political and governance systems in ways that encourage active citizenship, ensuring that everyone?from youth to the elderly?has a voice.

?In this context, peaceful protests are an essential exercise of democratic rights: the right to peacefully assemble, associate, and express grievances.

?The government?s reaction to the #EndBadGovernance protests was a disgraceful black mark on its record.

?Children and youth were killed, and many were unjustly arrested and charged with severe offenses, including treason, for exercising their constitutional rights. If there are any pending charges against such individuals, those charges must be dropped, and all affected individuals released immediately.

?Taking such action would send a stronger, more productive signal that this government is committed to fostering democracy and embracing active citizen participation, rather than resorting to hollow gestures like promises of confabs that may ultimately achieve little.

?Real progress lies in creating avenues for sustained and impactful youth participation in decision-making processes?not just a one-time sitting allowance exercise that benefits only a privileged few.

?The delay in fulfilling the promise of a youth confab raises serious questions about President Tinubu?s commitment to addressing the concerns and demands of young Nigerians.

?The skepticism we expressed at the time of his October 1 pledge appears to be justified.

?The promise seemed more like a tool to pacify the youth following heightened tensions after the #EndBadGovernance protests than a genuine effort to engage and address their needs.

?Recent developments have further underscored the urgency of tackling these issues.

?The Nigeria Police are once again in the news following the unflattering remarks by UK Conservative Party politician Kemi Badenoch, herself Nigerian-born, who called out the troubling behaviour of the Nigeria Police.

?If you follow the chatter on social media, it is evident that Ms. Badenoch?s sentiments resonate deeply with many young Nigerians.

?They continue to recount stories similar to hers?experiences of being harassed, extorted, or profiled by the police simply for looking ?flashy? or successful.

?These are the same tangible issues that sparked the #EndSARS protests four years ago, and one must ask: have the Nigeria Police stopped ?robbing? young people on the streets for simply existing or appearing affluent?

?These are real, lived experiences that cannot be ignored. They speak to the systemic rot in our law enforcement institutions that this government has a constitutional duty to address?confab or no confab.

?Inaction on these matters only deepens the disillusionment of young people who already face overwhelming challenges such as record unemployment, rising costs of education, and skyrocketing inflation.

?Additionally, while the government celebrates record Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) disbursements, the critical question remains: how has this translated into tangible improvements in the lives of young Nigerians and the population at large?

?Without transparency, accountability, and people-centred policies, such financial milestones become hollow victories that do little to ease the struggles of the average Nigerian youth.

The delay in convening the youth confab?and the lack of progress on critical issues?suggests disconnect between the government?s rhetoric and its priorities.

?If President Tinubu is truly committed to the plight of young Nigerians, it must be demonstrated through decisive, people-centred action, not empty promises.

?President Tinubu must prioritize addressing the real challenges facing Nigerian youth and citizens, as symbolic gestures like a confab cannot replace effective governance.

?Urgent police reform is needed to end the harassment and extortion of young people, ensuring that the injustices of the #EndSARS protests are never repeated. ?Economic policies must tackle inflation, unemployment, and the rising cost of living through transparent and impactful initiatives.

?The government must invest in education and social welfare to improve access to essential services, while also fostering meaningful citizen participation.

?Peaceful protests should be recognized as a legitimate democratic right, not criminalized. Finally, accountability and transparency in the use of public funds are crucial to delivering tangible improvements to citizens? lives?.

Silence over confab not good for our youths ? CISLAC

The Executive Secretary, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, Auwal Rafsanjani, said, ?The delay in President Tinubu?s promised National Youth Conference in the 2024 Independence speech of President Tinubu and seemingly in response to the youth restiveness believed to be the chief reason for the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country is not appropriate.

?The conference was expected to bring together young Nigerians from across the country to address critical issues facing the youth in the county such as education, unemployment and political participation.

?While the promise was greeted with excitement and plans to actualize the conference expected to be rolled out immediately, the President and the Presidency unfortunately went silent on the issue.

?This silence appeared to be interpreted by many youth groups across the country as an empty promise without any clear intent to actualize the conference.

?While the preceding periods after the Independence Day speech generated a lot of buzz with mixed reactions greeting the expected modality for the conference, the presidency failed to follow through in sustaining the excitement which quickly shifted to a barrage of expressions of disappointment from youth groups across the geo-political zones of the country.

?Clearly, the importance of youth prioritization in the governance of Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. As the largest demography of the Nigerian population, the youth represent the most agile, innovative, energetic and active population, and are expected to drive the country?s modernization and development.

?Unfortunately, the youth, over the years, have been underrepresented, undervalued and largely marginalized from participating in the development of the country.

?This unfortunate scenario has in turn fostered youth restiveness, crime, and a lack of patriotism among young people in the country.

?It has also been seen as the major reason for the migration of young people from the country and leading to brain-drain.

?These years of youth deprivation formed the basis for the excitement that greeted the President?s promise.

?However, three months down the line, the promise that had appeared as the President?s good plans for youth and an intention to address the long years of marginalization, appeared to be a missed opportunity.

?Fortunately, in a move that appears to look like a good reading of the pulse of youth in the country, the administration, through the Minister of Youths, as reported, rolled out the plans to hold the conference in February 2025 to journalists.

?The reports indicate that the government will constitute committees to engage in consultations which are expected to culminate into a one-week conference to aggregate the different reflections gathered from the consultations.

?The idea of consulting at the federal constituencies? level is indeed laudable and would ensure the planned conference is not a conference of a few delegates but one that would have harvested inputs from the grassroots.

?While this is critical, what is of utmost importance is for the government to follow through on the new dates to ensure the conference is organized effectively.?

Delay in convening confab reflects lack of urgency ? ActionAid

The Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, AAN, Andrew Mamedu, on his part, said, ?ActionAid Nigeria notes with concern that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu?s promise to organize a National Youth Conference, made during his October 1 Independence Day address, has not yet materialized.

?While the announcement offered hope to millions of Nigerian youths, the delay in delivering on this promise reflects a worrying lack of urgency in addressing critical youth-related issues, including unemployment, access to education, and political inclusion.

?The delay in organizing the conference has elicited disappointment among various youth groups, who perceive it as a lack of urgency in addressing their concerns.

?For instance, the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum expressed profound disappointment, emphasizing that the delay reflects a lack of interest in youth development.

?In the light of these concerns, ActionAid Nigeria urges President Tinubu to prioritize the organization of the national youth conference as a matter of urgency.

?We recommend that the conference be inclusive, engaging youth representatives from diverse backgrounds and political affiliations to ensure a comprehensive dialogue.

?The February 2025 date recently mentioned appears to be a postponement rather than an immediate response to pressing demands.

?The delay raises genuine concerns about the President?s commitment to prioritizing youth development and addressing their plight.

?Nigerian youths remain at the centre of socioeconomic challenges high unemployment, deteriorating education systems, and limited opportunities for participation in governance.

?The perceived inertia in fulfilling this promise diminishes confidence in the administration?s willingness to take concrete action.

?Young people deserve more than rhetoric; they need deliberate, timely, and impactful engagement to transform their realities.

?True commitment would require swift action and the creation of platforms for continuous dialogue not delays that amplify frustration and disillusionment. By taking these steps, the administration can demonstrate its commitment to empowering young people and actively involving them in nation-building.

?ActionAid Nigeria calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to treat the National Youth Conference with the urgency it deserves and ensure its organization does not extend further beyond the announced February 2025 date.

?We strongly urge the President to: Make the process inclusive by engaging representatives from diverse backgrounds, marginalized groups, and youth movements to ensure comprehensive and equitable dialogue. Guarantee that the conference produces actionable recommendations with clear timelines for implementation.

?Follow through on commitments by addressing systemic issues affecting youths, such as unemployment, education, and civic participation, with measurable policies and investments.

?Nigeria?s young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow, they are change-makers today.

?ActionAid Nigeria reminds the government that inclusive engagement and visible action are vital to restoring trust and empowering the youth to contribute meaningfully to nation-building?. (Sunday Vanguard)

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