The Northern Governors Forum met in Kaduna and resolved to set up Youth and Civil Society Committee to engage Nigerian youths with a view to addressing their pressing demands and put to rest their agitations.
This was part of the decisions reached at the end of the Governors meeting with traditional rulers, members of the National Assembly, the Inspector General of Police Muhammad Adamu and Chief of Staff to the President Professor Ibrahim Gambari in Kaduna on Monday.
In a Communique issued at the end of the meeting and read by Plateau State Governor and Chairman Northern Governor’s Forum, Simeon Lalong, the Governors rejected and condemned the subversive actions of the #Endsars protest, the hijack and endorsed the Indivisibility and oneness of Nigeria.
While appreciating the roles of traditional rulers, religious leaders and others in containing the menace of Endsars protests in the north,the meeting collectively agreed that traditional rulers be given formal roles in the governance architecture of the Country.
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The meeting also took note of the devastating effect of the uncontrolled social media in spreading fake news and called for major control mechanism and censorship of the social media practice in Nigeria
The Meeting raised attention on the need to keep strict watch on the Federal Capital Territory to guide against unwarranted and destructive protests to safeguard critical assets of the Nation.
While commending the national Assembly and the Presidency in being proactive in addressing the issues of Endsars protests , the meeting stressed the need to further push for amicable resolutions of ASSU strikes to enable students resume their studies.
” Appreciates the role of religious leaders, such as the Ulamas, JNI and CAN for their positive interventions in resolving the Endsars conflicts.”
“Calls for collective effort in addressing the lingering challenges of the North e.g. Almajiri system, insecurity, illiteracy, poverty, etc.”
“Meeting noted and appreciated the far reaching efforts of Northern States Governors’ Forum in taking proactive measures to address the Endsars protest in the country and the North in particular. Equally Forum notes with satisfaction the actions taken by the Governors to revive the economic fortunes of the region particularly during the post Covid-19 period.”
“Forum appreciate Mr. President and his Cabinet for the quick intervention in meeting the demands of the Endsars protesters and resolved to give him the maximum support as he roles out measures to address the lingering challenges of youth unemployment, banditry and Boko Haram insurgency in the country.”
The Forum also appreciate the roles of the youth for their response to the Endsars, in curtailing the spread of hooliganism, thuggery and other separatist tendencies.
The Forum appreciates the major reforms going on in the Police Force and resolves to support the Nigerian Police Force to serve the Country better and calls for the strengthening of trust between the people and the Police.
While expressing concern over the low level involvement of relevant stakeholders in the implementation of government, they called on the relevant Agencies to review implementation strategies to make for maximum impact and benefits.
The meeting calls for further engagement with critical stakeholders such as Religious Leaders, Business community, youths leaders etc.
The Forum set up two committees to push for statutory roles for traditional rulers and engagement with youths and civil society organisations.
The Committee on Roles of Traditional Rulers is headed by the Emir of Lafia, Sidi Bage, with two representatives from the National Assembly and a minister as members.
The Committee on Youth and Civil Society Organisations has the Emir of Zazzau, Ahmad Bamalli, as Chairman
The forum has representative of elders, youths, women and persons with disability as members from each of the three zones.
Others are representatives of Muslim and Christian clerics, business community and police.
“These engagement committees are to commence work immediately,” it said.
