Chairman of Christian Association Of Nigeria (CAN) Abia state Chapter, Apostle Emmanuel Agomuoh has advised Governor Okezie Ikpeazu to retire aged civil servants in the state workforce to make room for total inclusion of the youths in government.
Apostle Agomuoh was speaking at the Special Town Hall meeting convened by Abia state government in collaboration with the Federal Government, which was geared towards deepening government’s commitment to the demands of the youths following End SARS protests that rocked Abia state and other states of the federation.
According to the CAN Chairman, “majority of Keke riders in the state are graduates who due to lack of employment opportunities opted for the business while we have the aged occupying positions meant for the youths in the state civil service”.
He wondered how the youths who are said to be the leaders of tomorrow can take their rightful place in governance when the aged have refused to give them the opportunity to showcase their potentials.
While condemning the destruction of public and private properties by criminal elements who hijacked the hitertho peaceful protests, Apostle Agomuoh argued that when youths are carried along in government policies and programmes as well as properly engaged, the issue of Youth restivessness will be curbed to the bearest minimum.
He therefore urged the state government to sanitize the state workforce to make room for youths to occupy positions of trust.
Declaring the town hall meeting open, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu said the meeting was convened to bring stakeholders up to speed with happenings in the state and to foster peace.
The Governor highlighted the efforts of his administration in ensuring the inclusion of youths in the governance of the State and disclosed that his administration has put in place measures to engage the youths positively as a panacea to curbing youth restiveness since assumption of office with 60% of his cabinet drawn from youths.
He noted that his administration is ensuring the conduct of the Local Government elections are held to include youths in leadership pointing out that the institution of Homeland Security with 300 security guards trained, employement of 500 persons in TIMASS, establishment of E4E with 3,400 youths on the data base and linking up of youths to federal government empowerment programs among others were done to engage the youths and create employment opportunities.
Ikpeazu therefore called on all stakeholders to deploy everything within their powers to appeal to the youths to desist from destroying public and private properties adding that government has noted their grievances with a view to tackling them.
The interactive section featured various speeches by the Minister of State for Mines & Steel Development, Dr. Uche Ogah,the Member representing, Bende Federal constituency at the National Assembly, Barr. Benjamin Kalu,Speaker, state House of Assembly,Engr. Chinedum Orji among other critical stakeholders in Abia state.
