Only Youth Should Be Ministers of State From 2019 – Dogara

Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has advocated for the appointment of only youth as ministers of state beginning from the next administration in 2019.

Dogara said in order for youth participation in government to be enhanced, junior ministerial positions should be preserved for young Nigerians who have interest in politics public offices.

Speaking at the Not-Too-Young-To-Run conference on Thursday, the Speaker said the adage that the youth should “wait for their time” in politics should be abolished.

Dogara said, “I don’t think we will be asking for too much after the 2019 elections if we insist on a situation where we can appoint youth as ministers of state.

“This is so that youths’ participation can be enhanced. It is not too much, and if we demand it and stay through to the cause, like joke it will happen.

“They have always been told that they are still young. They have always been told that they should wait to for their time.

“Though the age reduction bill had been signed, it is only the legal barrier that was removed, but there are other barriers left to be conquered in terms of bringing the youth into positions of leadership.

“Barriers like that of economic, institutional and capacity building have to be pulled down for youths who will occupy these offices and without combating these challenges, the benefits of the bill will not be reaped.

“Especially removing the financial barriers that stand against youths at the party levels,” said the Speaker.