Executive finally heeds Agboworin’s plea for youths unemployment benefits, sets up N25b fund

The federal government has created a N25bn youth fund as part of efforts to address the dissatisfaction of #EndSARS protesters and other youth-related restiveness in the country.

This was disclosed by the Minister of Finance, Budget and Nationa Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed at a stakeholders’ meeting with the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, recently in Kaduna.

Though it wasn’t stated expressly, the move appears to be a response to the call by the Vice Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Air Force, Honorable Abass Adigun, a.k.a Agboworin.

Honorable Adigun, a PDP lawmaker representing Ibadan North-East/Ibadan South-East Federal Constituency had, following the nationwide unrest occasioned by the protests against police brutality and extortion and the call for the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad unit of the Nigeria Police force, called on the President, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) to urgently set up a youth unemployment benefit fund as part of ways to assuage the #EndSARS protesters.

The US Navy retiree had said such fund was not only overdue but made expedient by the ‘quality demands coming from the youths currently engaged in the #EndSARS protest across the country.’

He also suggested that the initiative be funded by about two percent of the proceeds accruing to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, especially now that the corporation is expected to run profitably with the removal of subsidy.

At the meeting, the finance explained that the youth fund would be increased to N75bn within a period of three years, adding that the fund aims to support youths to actualize their entrepreneurial aspirations and create job opportunities.