Nasarawa Youth Parliament Clocks One Year, Pushes Stronger Youth Inclusion in Governance Hon. Ibrahim Sadiq Sultan highlights motions on youth empowerment, governance reforms, security and social justice at Nasarawa Youth Productivity Summit I

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By Suleiman Abubakar Rimi Uku Lafia 

The Honourable Member representing Nasarawa South at the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Ibrahim Sadiq Sultan, has reaffirmed the commitment of the Parliament to championing policies and motions that directly address the challenges facing Nigerian youths.

Sultan stated this in his welcome remarks at the maiden edition of the Nasarawa Youth Productivity Summit I, organized to commemorate one year in office of the current session of the Nigerian Youth Parliament.

He described the sixth session of the Parliament as purposeful and impact-driven, noting that members collectively resolved, from their inaugural sitting, to focus on issues of critical importance to youths across the country rather than engaging in ceremonial debates.

According to him, several landmark motions were moved and adopted during subsequent sittings, including a motion calling for the regulation and possible scrapping of fraudulent organizations allegedly exploiting Nigerian youths under the guise of empowerment and economic opportunities.

 He said the motion was adopted and forwarded to the Committee on Legislative Compliance for necessary action.

Sultan further disclosed that the Parliament added its voice to calls for the immediate payment of backlog allowances owed to empowerment programme beneficiaries, stressing that delays had caused undue hardship to many young Nigerians.

Other motions highlighted include calls for urgent intervention to restore peace between farmers and herders, improved conditions in correctional facilities, and the creation of a more conducive environment for inmates, particularly young offenders.

He also referenced a special sitting held three days earlier to mark the Parliament’s one-year anniversary, during which motions with direct bearing on youths in Nigeria and Nasarawa State were deliberated upon.

One of such motions, Sultan noted, was his proposal for the compulsory inclusion of youths in governance, beyond elective offices. He explained that while the “Not Too Young to Run” Act addressed age barriers in elections, there was a pressing need to deliberately appoint youths into leadership and decision-making positions.

“The reality is that many youths lack the financial capacity to contest elections due to the high cost of nomination forms, campaigns and other processes. Appointment into governance structures remains a viable pathway for meaningful youth participation,” he said.

The summit attracted youth leaders, stakeholders and members of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, and served as a platform to review achievements, challenges and future policy directions aimed at enhancing youth productivity and national development.