The Nigerian League of Youths for Advocacy (NLYA) has expressed deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Prof. Nentawa Goshwe Yilwatda as the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
In a statement issued by the National President, Comrade Agada J. Anyebe (Al-Amin), NLYA also praised President Tinubu for his directive to unconditionally release minors detained in connection with the “ill-advised, politically motivated, and mismanaged” #EndBadGovernance protests held across the country from August 1st-10th, 2024.
Com. Agada noted that NLYA had kept its distance from the protests, foreseeing their detrimental impact on national unity and stability.
According to NLYA, President Tinubu’s recent actions, including the appointment of Prof. Yilwatda and the release of detained minors, underscore his humane and people-centered approach to governance and his commitment to ensuring that his economic reforms are implemented thoughtfully and with compassion.
Com. Agada lauded Prof. Yilwatda as a highly qualified and compassionate professional whose dedication to uplifting the poor and disadvantaged, especially the youth, is widely recognized. He noted that Prof. Yilwatda’s appointment is a strategic move to ensure that the Nigerian masses, who have often been shortchanged in the delivery of government palliatives, are fully considered in ongoing and future initiatives.
“Indeed, no significant reform can happen without some sacrifice,” Com. Agada stated. “The fuel subsidy removal policy of the Tinubu administration is a necessary but challenging step to stabilize our economy and curb unsustainable wealth siphoning through subsidies benefiting only a select few.”
Recognizing that the subsidy removal has caused temporary hardships, Com. Agada praised the President for implementing measures to alleviate the policy’s impact. These measures include distributing palliatives through state governments, federal legislators, and the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. However, he acknowledged that these palliatives have often failed to reach the grassroots effectively. NLYA expressed strong confidence that, with Prof. Yilwatda’s leadership, these delivery challenges will be resolved.
The group highlighted Prof. Yilwatda’s extensive experience working in rural Nigerian communities on a private sector initiative that provides clean, eco-friendly electricity through micro-grids. This experience has equipped him with firsthand knowledge of grassroots challenges, positioning him well to address the needs of underserved communities and improve their quality of life.
Urging Nigerians to be patient with the Tinubu administration, the group underscored that meaningful, far-reaching reforms, like the fuel subsidy removal, may not yield immediate benefits but lay the foundation for a prosperous future for Nigerians of all generations.
NLYA also commended President Tinubu’s other people-focused initiatives, including the New Minimum Wage, the Student Loan Scheme, the Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, the establishment of additional Regional Development Commissions, and the move towards Local Government Autonomy. They noted that these reforms will strengthen governance and drive development in rural communities.
Com. Agada acknowledged human rights lawyer Deji Adeyanju’s advocacy for unpaid N-Power beneficiaries but urged him to exercise patience with the new Minister. He reminded the public that these grievances were inherited from the previous administration under Mrs. Betta Edu, who was suspended following allegations of financial mismanagement.
“We appeal to all Nigerians with unresolved issues from the past administration at the Humanitarian Affairs Ministry to allow Prof. Yilwatda the necessary time to fully assume his duties before inundating him with petitions,” Com. Agada concluded.
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