The future of any society is rightly built around youth. Therefore, it is not unusual to hear the saying that the future lies in their hands or that they are the leaders of tomorrow.
Most youths, even with this aphorism, seems to be apprehensive over the possibility of ever attaining that dream.
This fear comes in the form of questions like, how much can one sustain oneself, pay back those that have invested in one’s life and perhaps the most pivotal of all questions, how can one start one’s own family?
Perhaps, in response to these anxiety-inducing questions, President Goodluck Jonathan, has reiterated that all his effort is geared towards securing a better future for the Nigerian youths.
In the light of this, the President in a broadcast, in the wake of the protest against the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, disclosed that one of the palliative measures would have the youth as its target, to better their lives and cushion the effect of the subsidy removal. He insisted that the plan to provide jobs for the teeming youths, especially in the transport sector, would be intensified.
Even with this promise, the youths were not deterred from marching on the streets in protest against the removal of fuel subsidy.
Recently, more than five youth organisation came under the umbrella National Youth Alliance to speak with one voice against the removal of fuel subsidy.
Speaking at the press briefing, the president Youth Action Initiative in Africa, Samson Itodo, said that their position on the removal of fuel subsidy include the following “we demand a cut down in the cost of running? government and not to remove subsidy.? He continued “It is said, if you want me to bear a burden, show me the one you are carrying” and added that the move by the federal government has succeeded in bringing an unquantifiable hardship on Nigerians as a whole.
A graduate of accountancy,? Mr Adamu Abubakar said “ even with promise? to provide jobs after removing fuel subsidy, the government will probably pay a graduate N20,000 or N30,000 naira as obtained in most private sector establishments.
“I do not think that amount will sustain a person, with the increase in the standard of living, this amount will be competing with so many needs like transport fair and other things. I think government needs to look critically at this issue of subsidy removal and how the average Nigerian youth will cope there should be a substantial increase in salaries for graduates.”
Apart from increase in standard of living, Mr Peter Prince, a young graduate, is of the opinion that the impact of subsidy removal would increase dependence of the youth on their parents and relations and also affect the number of youths that could? further their education.
“As a result of lack of sponsorship, you might not be able to go to school or be able to save enough to go to school. Government needs to put in place parameters to prevent school dropout and for the advancement of learning by providing scholarships if most youths are not to become a burden to their parents.”
Apart from the educational sector, Emmanuel Kingsley, an engineer, is of the view that with the financial meltdown, most companies would be doing everything possible to reduce their expenses by reducing staff and? if possible cutting down their salaries