In a bid to address the concerns of youths in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), President Bola Tinubu has approved the establishment of a Youth Secretariat.
This new initiative comes just months after the creation of a Women Affairs Secretariat in the FCT Administration (FCTA).
The announcement was made by the FCT Minister, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, during a town hall meeting held on Monday in Bwari.
The meeting aimed to dissuade the youths of Abuja North from participating in a planned nationwide strike scheduled to begin on August 1.
“I have good news for you. Following your complaints, I approached the president, and Mr President has graciously approved the creation of a Youth Secretariat for the FCT,” Wike revealed to the attendees.
The secretariat, equivalent to youth ministries in states, will be headed by a secretary, comparable to state commissioners.
Wike also addressed the issue of the FCT being overlooked in the appointment of commissioners at the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), where a representative from Kogi State was appointed instead.
He assured the youths that President Tinubu had promised to review and rectify the situation.
Emphasizing the administration’s focus on security, Wike announced, “Security is a critical priority in the renewed hope agenda. One police station each has been approved to be built in each area council.”
He further noted the importance of fairness and justice, stating, “Nobody likes injustice.
That was what informed my policy of spreading amenities because when you are happy, allow your neighbour to be happy too. That is what brings peace.”
The Minister urged the youths to refrain from joining the planned protests, advocating for dialogue instead. “An economy that was down for decades cannot be fixed in one year, give us time,” Wike implored.
In response, the youth leaders assured the Minister that they would not participate in the strike, expressing their preference for dialogue.
Earlier in the day, Wike inspected the ongoing 29 km road construction in the Paikon Kore Area of Gwagwalada Area Council. He secured a commitment from the contractor to complete the project by December this year.
