Youth Parliament Seeks Reserved Offices for Young Nigerians

The Nigerian Youth Parliament (NYP) has called for constitutional reforms to institutionalise youth inclusion in governance by creating constitutionally recognised youth-designated positions with clearly defined age qualifications.

The call was made by the Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Zakari Idris, during the 2026 commemoration of the International Day of Parliamentarism, organised by the Nigerian Youth Parliament in collaboration with the House Committee on Youth in Parliament, House of Representatives.

Speaking at the event, Idris described the annual observance as more than a celebration, saying it provides a platform to reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to democratic governance, youth inclusion, and nation-building, while recognising the critical role of parliaments in promoting accountability, representation, and sustainable development.

He disclosed that the Nigerian Youth Parliament initiated the commemoration of the International Day of Parliamentarism in Nigeria in 2025 to bridge the gap between young people and elected legislators, expressing satisfaction that the initiative had continued this year.

According to him, the Parliament is committed to sustaining the observance as an annual platform for strengthening dialogue, collaboration and mutual understanding between Nigerian youths and their elected representatives.

The Speaker also commended members of the Sixth Session of the Nigerian Youth Parliament for what he described as their resilience, patriotism and dedication to advancing the aspirations of millions of young Nigerians despite numerous challenges.

Highlighting the Parliament’s legislative advocacy, Idris revealed that the Nigerian Youth Parliament has submitted a constitutional amendment bill to both the Senate and the House of Representatives seeking to amend relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

He explained that the proposed amendment seeks to introduce age qualifications for appointments into youth-related public offices, including Commissioners for Youth, Special Advisers on Youth and other strategic youth development positions, to ensure that institutions responsible for youth affairs are led by individuals who understand and represent the interests and realities of young Nigerians.

“The conversation on youth inclusion must move beyond rhetoric and translate into deliberate constitutional and policy reforms. We can no longer continue to entrust youth development exclusively to individuals who are far removed from the demographic they are appointed to serve,” Idris said.

He stressed that meaningful youth inclusion requires deliberate legal and institutional reforms and called on non-governmental organisations, youth groups, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to support the campaign for constitutional recognition of youth-designate positions.

The Speaker also announced the Nigerian Youth Development Leadership Conference (NYDLC) 2026, scheduled for November, describing it as the Parliament’s flagship leadership initiative that will bring together young leaders, lawmakers, policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics, development partners and public servants to develop innovative solutions for national development and youth empowerment.

He appealed to governments, corporate organisations, educational institutions, civil society organisations, international development partners and the private sector to partner with the Nigerian Youth Parliament to make the conference a national platform for leadership development, innovation, policy dialogue and sustainable youth empowerment.

As part of the celebration, the Nigerian Youth Parliament honoured outstanding members from the North-East, South-South and South-East geopolitical regions for their exceptional representation and contributions to youth development.

The Parliament also conferred the Award of Outstanding Service on the Director of Network and Social Mobilisation of the Federal Ministry of Youth Development and the Clerk of the National Assembly, in recognition of their support for the growth of the Parliament and the advancement of youth participation in governance.

Idris expressed appreciation to the leadership of the House of Representatives, the House Committee on Youth in Parliament, development partners, guests, the media and members of the planning committee for their support in ensuring the success of the event.

He reaffirmed the Nigerian Youth Parliament’s commitment to strengthening democratic institutions, expanding opportunities for youth participation, and building a nation where every young Nigerian can contribute meaningfully to governance and national development.