By the Head of Bureau, youtHouse reporters, Taraba State.
One of the acclaimed Vice Presidents of NYCN for the North East, Comr. Bishop Douglass, has stated his position over the tussle for leadership in the NYCN crisis.
The Text is published as issued below:
MY ATTENTION HAS BEEN DRAWN TO A PRESS STATEMENTS CREDITED TO TARABA STATE MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORT DEVELOPMENT DATED 24th FEBRUARY, 2021.
First and foremost, I will like to appreciate the Ministry for diving into issues they know nothing about.
The NYCN is the apex body and authentic Mouthpiece of the Nigerian Youths. It shall be non Political, Non Religious and non Secretive which shall be responsible for the coordination of the activities of all Nigerian Youths and all Voluntary Youth Organizations at the three tiers of government in the Federal Republic of Nigeria…… Article 26(ii)
The extent of the rights and privileges of the Ministry as encapsulated in the 2012 Amended Constitution of the Youth Council is contained in Article 15 therein as rightly quoted in the Press Statements of the Ministry, it is also paramount to note that Article 15 is not limited to paragraphs (a & e) alone but has paragraphs (a – h) with each paragraph relevant and important as the other.
wherein; Article 15 (f) & (g) are reproduce verbatim thus:
(f) The absence of the Ministry in charge of Youth Development having been duly notified and invited does not in anyway invalidate any of the Proceedings and Resolutions made at such Meetings/Congress.
(g) Notwithstanding any other Provisions in this Constitution, the Youth Council is AUTONOMOUS in Operation, Planning and Execution of all it activities without interference from Government or any External bodies. It is in the spirit and intendment of Paragraph (g) herein that, Same decision of wrongful interference by His Excellency, Senator Sani Abubakar Danladi, Dissolving the Executives of the Youth Council in Taraba State was overturned in the judgement of case No: TRSJ/198/2014, dated 6th October, 2016 where a consequential Order was made thus: " Any election conducted into the executive council of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Taraba State during the pendency of this case is hereby declared null and void and, of no legal effect whatsoever". By implication, government has no right whatsoever to meddle with the affairs of the Council.
And, with the evidential quality and nature of documents transmitted to the Ministry for the purpose of conducting the said activities of Youth Council in the state, the Ministry cannot claim, not to have been communicated to.
The extensive but limited power of the Ministry in the NYCN amended Constitution, 2012, does not include Barning or interfering with any activities of the Youth Council.
A state where issues of fundamental importance like payment of students bursary allowances (Scholarship), Salaries of Local Government Staff, Primary School Teachers and, Pension and gratuities of pensioners are being ignored.
Conducts of wrongful interference to collapse the Youth Umbrella is an attempt to hijack the future of Taraba state Youth and, any further attempt by the Ministry to exceed it supervisory Constitutional Privileges will be an Outright demand to test the integrity of Taraba State Government and, we would not relent to seek redress in a court of jurisdiction for contempt and, interpretation of the NYCN Constitution as amended.
Finally, We have constituted the Central Planning Committee (CPC) as well as the Electoral Committee (ELECO) as rightly observed by the Ministry in it publication, we equally have the blessings of the National Executive Committee (NEC), (which is the highest decision making body of the Youth Council) my humble self and the entire North East Zonal Executives, that election must be conducted in Taraba state to alter the redundancy imposed by institutions of government beneficial to inciting youthful unrest in the Youth Constituency of Taraba State.
A non political entity should be void of unholy political manipulations in it entirety.
BUILD THE YOUTH, BUILD THE NATION!
In Active Youthful Service,
BISHOP KANATAPWA DOUGLAS.
VICE PRESIDENT, NORTH-EAST ZONE,
NATIONAL YOUTH COUNCIL OF NIGERIA.