The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, warned political office holders and policymakers against paying lip service to youth unemployment.
He challenged his colleagues in positions of authorities to factor youth employment and empowerment into the 2021 budget so as to escape another round of #EndSARS protests.
Lawan gave the warning when the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Sabo Nanono, led top officials of his ministry to defend its 2021 budget before the Senate Committee on Agriculture.
Lawan said the oil sector and white-collar jobs could no longer provide the required employment to keep the youths busy and financially stable.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari told Nigerian youths who have been protesting under the auspices of #EndSARS that it was in their interest to keep the peace.
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President spoke during the visit of the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Amina Mohammed, Nigeria’s former Minister of Environment, to the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The President was quoted to have said that their generation is on the last lap. It is in the interest of the youth to keep the peace. They want jobs, infrastructure and development. Buhari also lamented that COVID-19 had shrunk the global economy.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General was quoted as telling Buhari that she was on a courtesy call with her team to flag interest on challenges that concern the UN, particularly COVID-19, climate change, security, and humanitarian responses to the diverse challenges.
