…says; ”it is a mystery to us. challenges Minister to publish names of beneficiaries
The Ijaw Youths Council, IYC, in a statement released by its President, worldwide, Pereotubo Oweilaemi, has challenged the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs to substantiate a statement credited to him over an alleged youths training programme, he was quoted to have said his Ministry has embarked on in the region.
The apex socio-political group, hinted at the alleged programme as being a phantom project, since none of the President Generals of all the nationalities in the region are aware of its existence.
IYC, therefore, challenged the minister to publish the names of the beneficiaries of the programme.
The statement reads; ”The attention of the Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has been drawn to some a news report credited to the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru, who was said to have claimed that his Ministry has embarked on the training of about 730 youths in the region.
”While we do not want to fault the Minister’s claim , our concern is the authenticity of such initiative.
”It may be true that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is actually training such number youths in the region in different fields, we make bold to say that the programme, if any, is shrouded in secrecy.
”As the President-General of the ethnic nationalities in the region are concerned, no Youth is aware of the fact that youths from the various ethnic groups in Niger Delta, are being engaged by the Ministry for different vocational training.
”IYC want to know the Ijaw Youths across the six States in the Niger Delta, that have benefited from the programme. The Council also wish to know the criteria the Ministry used in selecting such persons for the training.
”Though we will not hesitate to applaud the Ministry, if the IYC sees the list of Ijaw beneficiaries in the programme, our worry is the esoteric manner in which the Government is handling such laudable initiative”.
IYC, also advised the Federal Government, to ensure an open policy in its engagement of the youths of the region, if it is truly committed to tackling the youth agitations in the area.
It also expressed surprise at how the Niger Delta ministry, was gloating over a project shrouded in mystery
”If really, the present Government wants to mitigate the menace of youth agitations in the region, then let its institutions engender an open policy, that will be appreciated by all and sundry.
”We are surprised that the Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs can come on air to announce such very important programme of the Government, without putting the relevant stakeholders in the know.
”What is it meant to favour some ghost personalities, while the Ministry is gloating over such ghost achievements?”.
By Shina Badmus
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