Insecurity: Northern Governors Forum Inaugurates Special Committee On Youths And Civil Societies

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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Insecurity: Northern Governors Forum Inaugurates Special Committee On Youths And Civil Societies
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, North – West  Nigeria
In continuation of finding lasting solutions to the issue of insecurity in the country, the Northern Governors Forum yesterday inaugurated a Special Committee on Youths and Civil Societies under the Chairmanship of His Royal Highness the Emir of Zazzau Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.
This is a follow up of Northern Governors resolve during their meeting held 2nd November, 2020 at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House Kaduna where they engaged with Chairmen of the Northern States Traditional Rulers Council led by His Eminence the Sultan of Sokoto on recent developments in the country arising from the ENDSARS protests and subsequent fallouts.
After exhaustive deliberations the meeting resolved that there was the need to regularly engage with other critical stakeholders like the  Religious Leaders, the Business Community, Youths Leaders, Members of the Civil Societies, and Professional Groups.
This led to the setting up of two major engagement committees one of which is the Committee on Engagement with Youths and Civil Societies.
Present at the meeting were His Excellency, the Senate President, of the Federal Republic, the Honourable Deputy Speaker and other members of the National Assembly, Chief of Staff to the President, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, the Minister of Information and Culture, the Inspector General of Police and other Principal Officers of the National Assembly.
In his inaugural speech, KSGG
Chairman, Northern Governors Forum
& Executive Governor, Plateau State, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Simon Bako Lalong gave assurances on the committees resolve to deliver on their mandate.
“We are gathered here for a very important assignment in the progress and development of the Northern Region and Nigeria as a whole as we inaugurate the Special Committee on Youths and Civil Societies under the Chairmanship of His Royal Highness the Emir of Zazzau Alhaji Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli.
“You will agree with me that this Committee is very significant not only because of recent issues related to the ENDSARS protests and its subsequent hijack that led to looting, vandalisation and destruction of public and private properties, but because of strategic role that youths play in the socio-economic and political development of the nation.
“We are well aware that youths form a bulk of the population of the region and the nation, and as such have a great role to play in the destiny of the country. Their voices must not only be heard, but their opinions and views should always be carried along in governance.
“Here in the Northern Region, the challenges facing the youths are enormous and very well known to us. These include unemployment, illiteracy, crime, drug abuse among others. As leaders, we must not only address these challenges, but also engage the youths in a manner that they own the process to make any initiative successful and long lasting.
“That is why the assignment of this committee is very crucial in our agenda of changing the fortunes of our youths from despondency to hope and from few
opportunities to vast windows for self-realization and wealth creation.
On the issue of social media censorship  which he said has been misrepresented, Lalong  called on the need for responsive reportage in order not to give room for fake news. Governors Forum he said is not against freedom of speech.
 “For the avoidance of doubt, this position does not intend to gag, muzzle or suppress freedom of speech and expression of Nigerians. We are only advocating for responsibility and accountability as any of us can be victims of fake news, hate speech and incitement. Freedom of expression as we all know does not equal irresponsibility.”
The governor while congratulating members for their appointments charged them to be committed to the task ahead.
“I challenge you to be thorough, diligent and committed to this task.
“On this note, it is my honour and privilege to inaugurate the Special Committee on Youths and Civil Societies. I wish you success in your assignment.
“Let me use this opportunity to congratulate His Royal Highness the Emir for a successful installation as the 19th Emir of the Zazzau Emirate. We wish you well and pray that God will give you the wisdom and courage to lead your people and contribute to the growth and development of the Northern Region and the entire Nation.
“The committee has 8 weeks within which to complete its assignment and submit its report. Membership of the Committee is composed as enumerated.”
The north has adopted and embraced community policing. Governor  Lalong informed.
“We have adopted and embraced community policing. We sent people for training. They are back and going to be distributed to their various states. Very soon, we will be implementing our full community policing.”
The terms of Reference of the panel read thus:
i. To work out various ways of engaging the Youths in the North at different levels.
ii. Prioritize different programmes for Youth Development in the North.
iii. Identify and develop different platforms for Youth inclusion in the governance architecture in Nigeria and the North in particular.
iv. Any other recommendations deemed relevant by the committee.
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