The All Progressives Congress (APC) may not allow persons above 35 years to occupy the position of a Youth Leader at any level, The Nation learnt.
This was one of the recommendations made during the National Progressive Youth Conference held in Abuja, which has been approved by the National Caretaker Committee.
A member of the Lobby Committee and, Commissioner for Local Government, Community Development and Chieftaincy Affairs, Emmanuel Umar disclosed this during the Campus Conversation on Youth Participation organised by Yiaga Africa at the Federal University of Technology Minna.
He said this decision is taken to ensure that the APC follows in line with the National Youth Policy that states the age of youth to be from 18 to 35 years.
“Since a young person is within the age of 18 to 35, why are we having people over 35 as the youth leaders? Because we want that inclusiveness, we want participation and involvement from the youths, the youths during the conference recommended this to the caretaker committee and the Caretaker Committee has approved it.”
He said that the results of the recent ward and local government APC congresses have shown that the recommendation has begun to take effect.
“We have met with critical stakeholders and opinion leaders to say that henceforth, anyone that will occupy the position of youth leader at any level must be someone who falls within the age bracket of 18 to 35 and we have recorded such great success.”
Umar, a former Commissioner for Youth, expressed optimism that the move will trickle down to elective and appointed offices where positions would be reserved for youths.
The commissioner emphasised the importance of young people participating in governance and election adding the youths have the highest deciding factor to decide who the next leader of the nation would be.
He added that the change the youths seek may not be immediate but they should not sit aloof or sit at the sideline and allow people to take their strength for granted.
“The youths can decide on the next president of the country, they can canvass and put a youth to be in power because they have the strength to do it. I urge them to participate in the electoral process and stand for the candidates they believe in.”
