Reps panel asks FG to increase budgetary allocation for youth development

Martins Esin, chairman of the house of representatives committee on youth development,  says the federal government needs to support youths in the country to acquire innovative skills.

Esin, who represents Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urue Offong Oruko federal constituency of Akwa Ibom, spoke in Lagos on Friday in an interview with NAN.

The lawmaker said the nation cannot drive skill development “without having a budget that is youth responsive”.

“We need a youth-responsive budget,” he said.

“We want to see a situation where the government is committing a significant amount specifically for youth development. This is the major thing we are driving at.

“As a parliament, we feel improving the skill development capacity of the youth of this country is the way to go.

“We want to drive that with a youth-responsive budget. We want to see a significant jump in what is appropriate for the youth of this country.

“I think that is when the youth will now begin to have confidence in the nation and feel a sense of belonging.”

The lawmaker said President Bola Tinubu’s administration spurred youths to develop an interest in politics.

“In the house of representatives now, we have a lot of young persons,” he said.

“Over 20 percent of the house are young persons of less than 40 years and below and a lot of young people are also in the cabinet of Mr President.

“That’s an improvement, we are just talking about budgetary provisions.

“Once we get it right with the youth, we are on the path to a sustainable future. Anything youth development in Nigeria is welcome by us.

“This is a must for everybody and it concerns all. Our security challenges in the nation are perpetrated by the youth because some of our youth are not well taken care of.

“My message to the youth of this country is to know that there is no other country other than Nigeria they can call theirs.

“I think we should take ownership of our country. We should take our country back, we should be in the driving seat of the affairs of our country.

“More importantly, we should have hope in our country. Yes, we know there is a trust deficit, here and there, but we should look at the bigger picture and have hope.

“If we look away, everything will go bad. The youth of this country should take the country back and just believe in the country and things will work out.“