By Our Correspondent
The Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development (CEHRD), and Marine Base, Okana and Kpor Youth Leadership Networks in line with its resolve towards accountability of government to the people and the youths and working to increase transparency and accountability in the youth unemployment and empowerment in Rivers state attended at the invitation of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers state chapter and Phalga LGA, the review of the 2014 Byelaw that is meant to increased transparency, accountability and inclusiveness in the youth employment and empowerment programmes in the Rivers state.
In attendance were the NYCN representatives of the 23 LGAs in Rivers State, State and LGA Executives of the NYCN, Rivers chapter, the Acting National President, NYCN,
the chairman, Committee on Youth Employment and Empowerment in the Rivers State House of Assembly, Former National and State Presidents of NYCN, Permanent representative of Nigeria in the World Youth Council, Ambassador Marvin Yobana, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, representing the Commissioner of Youth Development, Directors in the Ministry of Youth Development, Voluntary Youth Organisations like our Youth Leadership Networks, Civil Society like CEHRD among others.
Key highlights of the Review of the 2014 River State NYCN BY-LAW meeting
The creation of a board to be called RIVERS STATE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BOARD whose members will include: President of the Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Chairman and Secretary of the State House of Assembly Committee on Youth Employment and Empowerment, Commissioner for Youth Development, Permanent Secretary/Director capacity representatives of Key Government Youth Focused Agencies and Ministries, Chairmen of Local Government Areas, Human Resource Directors of International Oil Companies, Multinationals and other key Indigenous Companies and few select Civil Society and community leaders
The responsibility of the Board may include to:
Review and update policies of the board and other youth related matters
Source employment and empowerment opportunities from government, oil and gas, multinationals and private companies through their key members who are part of the board
Harmonise youth employment and empowerment opportunities in Rivers State
Advertise opportunities and supervise employment and empowerment processes
Engage the Oil companies, multinationals and other key government and private agencies and companies doing business in the state
Monitor implementation
Evaluate programmes and impacts among others
The companies and ministries are expected to submit quotas of employment reserved for indigenous communities and local content to the board. But all the government agencies and ministries youth empowerment and employment opportunities will be passed through the board.
The chairman of the Rivers State House of Assembly Committee on Youth Employment and Empowerment, who represented the speaker, promised that the Bye Law will be presented to the speaker and the house and will be given a speedy passage into law as the RIVERS STATE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT BOARD.
He also promised to fast-track the domestication of the National Youth Policy in Rivers State in the House of Assembly as suggested and agreed by participants.
The tenor of NYCN state president was increased from 3 years to 4 years, while that of LGA presidents was reduced from 3 years to 2 years in line with the national amendment and recommendation to foster performance and opportunity for better leadership.
The idea was that the youths in the 23 LGAs in River State should benefit from opportunities which albeit now are given to HOST communities alone by especially IOCs and Multinationals. This will change as such opportunities will be directed through the yet to be constituted board and advertised for participation of all youths in the state. But larger quotas may be given to youths from such host communities by the board according to set criteria, qualification and skill sets.
In all, our advocacy (youth leadership network) contributed to this major move by the NYCN Rivers state chapter. We hope and will work towards it full passage in the Rivers State assembly and implementation by the board when constituted.
About CEHRD
CEHRD is a non-governmental organisation with its head office in 19 Okomoko Street, D/Line, Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital and branch office in the Ogale community in the Eleme Local Government Area (LGA). CEHRD was founded on 15th August, 1999. The organisation works in the areas of human and environmental rights, conservation and community development. For more information, please check. www.cehrd.org.ng
About the Network
The Marine base, Okana and Kpor Youth Leadership Networks was founded in 2014 by the youths of Marine base, Okana and Kpor communities through Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development with funding from Nigeria Stability and Reconciliation Programme, NSRP to carry out enlightenment campaign within the community on the importance of using non-violent actions in the demand for economic opportunities for the youths, enlighten communities on how to key into ongoing or upcoming employment and empowerment programmes, advocate for an equitable distribution of government programmes within the community, L.G.A and senatorial district irrespective of age, gender, status, caste, educational background or disabilities and religious and political affiliation and actively pursue economic opportunities for members both within the network and in the community.
