National Youth Council appoints new caretaker President

National Youth Council appoints new caretaker President

- A new president has been appointed for the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN)

- Abdullahi Mustapha was appointed president of NYCN on Sunday, June 2, after the council resolved the lingering crisis rocking its leadership

- Mustapha will serve as the NYCN caretaker chairman for a period of two years

The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), on Sunday, June 2, moved to resolve the lingering crisis with the council's leadership.

The council during a congress in Abuja, appointed Kogi-born Abdullahi Mustapha, as its caretaker chairman for a period of two years.

The meeting had in attendance, the Board of Trustees (BoT), National Advisory Council (NAC), state chairmen, heads of various Voluntary Youth Organizations (VYOs), the representatives of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youths Development and other stakeholders of the council.

At the congress the council resolved to investigate the encroachment of the piece of land given for Youth Village by former president Olusegun Obasanjo, empowered the BoT to recover all assets and property of the council; to amend the 2012 constitution of the Council; to sanction anyone impersonating officials or any organ of the council.

The congress also resolved to liaise with the ministry of youth, to review the recently launched National Youths Policy Document which the council was not duly consulted.

The council's BoT had in May 2019, dis-recognised all factional presidents and their executives through a letter to the former minister of youths and development, Solomon Dalung and copied the presidency and heads of various security agencies in Nigeria.

The Board hinged its decision on the order of the Nasarawa High Court, after the Gombe National Convention, where Comrade Bello Bala Shagari emerged national president, with other national executives.

Shortly after that, Comrade Shagari, in a press release last month, declared that he remained the national president and that BoT had no powers to remove him.

Also, former leader of the Council, Comrade Ikenga Ugochinyere appointed former aspirant at the Gombe Congress, Oladele Nihi, from Kogi state as national president two weeks ago.

The third factional president of the council, Sukubo Sara-Igbe Sukubu was also appointed by former minister, Dalung in his office, Abuja, a week to the expiration of his tenure as Minister.

But the congress did not only declare all existing factional executives illegal, it also faulted Dalung of meddlesome in the affairs of the council.

Speaking at the Congress, the chairman of the Board, Dickson Akoh, lamented how the Council had been hijacked by "strangers" whom he also said are engineering the lingering crisis.

"I want to make this abundantly clear. Any organization that is registered with the CAC, the only people recognized by law or Company Allied Matter Act, are the Incorporated Trustees.

"Thus, nobody can meet legally to take critical decision about the National Youth Council of Nigeria, without the knowledge of the Incorporated Trustees," Akoh said.

He also noted that although the National Executive Council has its own powers, the state chairmen also have their own powers, the Advisory Council can also meet and exercise its powers.

"But when it has to do with critical decision or teething issues affecting the council, no stranger is permitted to meet anywhere and take decision on behalf of the council.

"It is in this regard, that we have decided that we are not going to tow the part of what others are doing, but to invite all the stakeholders here, with the view to resolving the crises that are bedeviling the youth council," Akoh noted.

"Presently, for the first time in the history of the Youth Council, we have three 'national presidents' parading themselves. Some of the leaders we have thought would call the youths to order, also find solace in whatever they are doing. This is highly alarming and threatening!

On his part, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Olusade Adesola, said he was confident that the extraordinary congress would find "a way forward that could enhance your unity and cohesion in advancing the youth advantage in Nigeria".

The following officials were appointed as members of the national caretaker committee for the next two years.

Asuku Mustapha Abdulahi as president; Nnduanya Innocent as deputy president; Echem Chibuike, national vice president, south east; Ibanichukwu Kingsley, national vice president, south south; Adekunle Marufdeen, national vice president, south west; Gara Soyonga Nongha, national vice president north east; Othniel Gongden, national vice president, North Central and Ubale Funtua Aminu, national vice president, North West.

Others are, Blessing Akinlosotu, secretary general; Ebere Caleb, assistant secretary general; Awujoola Kehinde, public relations officer; Temitope Eniola, financial secretary; Aliyu Magaji Gamji, national programme officer; Uko Michael; treasurer; Millicent Umoru, social secretary; Tahri Ahmad, legal adviser; Ibrahim Ghasali Ungogo, internal auditor and Anita Nnebe, welfare officer.

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Also appointed are: Asheazi Musa, organising secretary, HQ; Humphrey Ikechukwuike Osuji, organising secretary, south east; Clinlon Avwoke, organizing secretary, south south; Kunle Bello, organizing secretary, south west; Bala Buba, organizing secretary, north east; Salahundeen Lukman, organizing secretary, north central and Mustapha Umar, organizing secretary, north west.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Barrister Imo Ugochinyere on Thursday, May 16, announced his resignation as president of the NYCN.

Ugochinyere said he resigned due to his active involvement in opposition politics.

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Source: Legit.ng

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