Comrade Abdul Bako Usman, 4th National President of Campaign for Democracy and Convener of Concerned Civil Society Network, has urged the Federal Government to ensure that, Development Commissions in Nigeria, fulfill their intended purposes.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Saturday, November 16, 2024, Comrade Usman emphasized that these commissions were established to address specific regional needs, promote development, and reduce unemployment to the barest minimum across the country.
Some of the Development Commissions in Nigeria include:
North East Development Commission (NEDC), which focuses on rebuilding and developing the North East region, the
Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), aimed at developing the Niger Delta region, the
National Commission for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons, targeted at providing support to refugees, migrants, and internally displaced persons.
Comrade Usman stressed that Civil Society members, are imploring the Federal Government to ensure that, all commission heads, meet the expectations of the people, within the areas where these Commissions are sited
“In order to ensure that the youths from all regions of this nation, both the North, East, West & South, are not short-changed , we are therefore calling on the Federal Government, to monitor the activities and actions of the heads of these Commission, Bako noted!
Comrade Usman throws his Weight, Behind the Association of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria.
The right activist also said that, himself, his organization and sister organizations, have been watching closely, the peaceful demands/protest of the Niger Delta youths, under the umbrella body of “Unemployed Youths Of Nigeria”, demanding for employment opportunities for her members, as well as grass root developmental projects, within the region.
“I wish to let you know that, we are monitoring closely the agitations by the Niger Delta youths, and that the Managing Director (MD) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) Sam Ogbuku, either resigns, or be sacked by Mr President, if he refuses to do the needful, of giving a listening ear to this armless demands, .
“As it is a violation of their fundamental rights to employment opportunities and developmental projects.
Comrade Usman further stated that, if the demands of the Niger Delta youths are not met within days, the Civil Society family will have no option, but join the already ferocious protest, so as to get the involvement of all other Federal Government agencies, to ensure that the needful is done.
” I will urge the Managing Director (MD) Sam Ogbuku of the NDDC ….. to listen to the agitations by the youths in his region and address them timeously, before things get out of hand.
” However, if this demands/peaceful protest, of the Niger Delta youths, under our very respected Umbrella body, “The Unemployed Youths Of Nigeria” persist, without any response from the appropriate quarters, we shall consider it a slap, to us, it’s national President, Comrade Ebi Zuofa, and other leaders like Comr Gbenga Fajoye etc, who have also stood to defend other national courses over the years, forcing us to mobilise in support, without any prior notice.