Modeled after the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Oyo State Youth Parliament is an assembly of young men and women in the thirty-two (32) state constituency in the state. In its ideal state, it is meant to be a legislative development training institution, created to strengthen, reinforce and consolidate efforts in empowering young people through meaningful youth representation in driving the state’s developmental agenda.
The parliament ought to be a preparatory ground for young men and women, who may later hold legislative or other leadership position in the state or at a higher pedestal. For instance, the pioneer Speaker of Nigerian Youth Parliament, Onofiok Luke, later became the Speaker of Akwa-Ibom State House of Assembly, and at the moment serves as a member of Nigerian House of Representative.
It was for this reason that the immediate past administration in Oyo State, inaugurated the state youth parliament, with the intent to serve as learning ground for young men and women of the state. The second Assembly was inaugurated in the twilight of the last administration, when the incumbent Head of Service, Alhaja Amidat Agboola, was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youths and Sport in the state.
For reasons best known to the leadership of the 9th Assembly, as led by Rt Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, as well as the executive, as represented by the immediate past Commissioner for Youths and Sport, Asiwaju Seun Fakorede, the assembly was rendered unproductive. It was therefore not surprising to those who have been following the politics involved, when the Assembly was dissolved in November, 2019 by the commissioner, few weeks after he met with members of the parliament, even when he has promised to reach out to the Assembly before making any decision.
For more than a year, there was no sign of the reconstitution of the parliament and this takes its toll on youths’ engagement in decision making issues in the state. It was therefore a thing of joy, when the reconstitution of the parliament was announced in April this year. Would-be parliamentarians were looking forward to the day of interview”, until the unexpected happened: The Commissioner for Youth and Sports, alongside other commissioners in the cabinet were sacked by the state governor. While one expected the Agency for Youths and Development, the agency saddled with the responsibility to oversee the youth parliament, would go ahead with the process, it instead informed the prospective parliamentarians that the process has been put on hold: till further notice.
It has been about two months that the process has been put on hold, with no date in sight for the continuation of the process. If the Agency’s excuse is that the commissioner is the chairman of the process, is the Permanent Secretary that has been in charge of the ministry is not capable enough to see to the completion of the process? Is the recruitment process into the youth parliament built on one man, Seun Fakorede, that we have to await his possible return, or another commissioner before the process will continue? Hasn’t the agency, for the umpteenth time, shown that it is manned by “yes-sir” people, who would only do the bidding of the incumbent commissioner, especially when the same agency recruited and dissolved the second parliament for political reasons?
It is high time that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youths and Sports, beamed his searchlight on the Agency for Youth Development and ensure that she prepares youth of the state for smooth integration physically, socially, psychologically and productively into the mainstream of the society.
Azeez Shuaib, a member of the 2nd Youth Parliament, Oyo state, can be reached via azeezshuaib5@gmail.com
