Abuja:The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Nyesom Wike, has called on youths within the territory to rally support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign, emphasizing significant institutional reforms. During an interactive session held on Wednesday with FCT youths in Abuja, Wike underscored the importance of evaluating political leadership based on tangible achievements rather than social media narratives.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Wike highlighted the lack of dedicated administrative structures for youths and women in the FCT since its establishment in 1976, until President Tinubu’s administration set up two secretariats. The creation of the FCT Youth Secretariat and Women Affairs Secretariat was marked as pivotal for establishing a foundation for structured governance and youth inclusion.
Wike questioned past administrations’ efforts, asking, “Was there any establishment of a Youth Secretariat? Was there any establishment of a Women Secretariat?” He urged the youth to differentiate between leaders who are ready to make difficult structural decisions and those who depend on unfulfilled political promises.
The minister defended Tinubu’s economic policies, particularly the removal of the petrol subsidy, describing it as a bold move that conserved national revenue and increased monthly allocations for infrastructure and public services. He also pointed to the stable academic calendar in Nigerian universities as a testament to the administration’s commitment to educational stability.
Representing the youth, Mr. Isaac David, President of the FCT Youth Network, encouraged youths to support Tinubu’s 2027 re-election by ensuring they register and use their Permanent Voter Cards. Proposals in collaboration with various stakeholders, such as the establishment of an FCT Education Trust Fund, were also presented.
Destiny Yamawo, a youth leader, advocated for more funding to the FCT Scholarship Board and improved welfare for teachers through the Universal Basic Education Board to deter industrial disputes. He also requested the inclusion of indigenous communities in development plans, with compensation for necessary relocations.
Mr. Hassan Aliyu, President of the Indigenous Youths of the FCT, sought Wike’s approval of scholarship applications for FCT indigenes and proposed the provision of dedicated buses for students’ academic activities. Additionally, Apostle Peter Anyebe and Mr. Adam Ahmed praised Wike’s infrastructure development efforts in the FCT and during his tenure as Rivers governor.