By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja – The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) on Monday said the devastating effects of corruption on the nation led the youth with no option but to collaborate with Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and other anti-graft agencies in tackling the menace.
The NYCN’s Directorate of Political and Democratic Matters, said this in a statement signed by its Director Mr Adedotun Omoleye, in Abuja.
“Corruption has really penetrated in every sector of the nation such as schools, places of worship, institutions, associations, private and public sectors; it is part of the major reasons the nation is experiencing financial and economic crunch.“
The directorate attributed the high rate of youth unemployment to corruption, pointing out the inability of successive administrations to utilise huge resources to industrialise the country over the years.
It further noted that youths were into criminal activities, including cyber crime and pipeline vandalism because they were not being gainfully employed many years after graduation.
They, however, expressed satisfaction at the efforts of the current EFCC management to tackle corrupt practices in the county.
“The National Youth Council of Nigeria, the umbrella body and mouthpiece of over 70 million young Nigerians, is calling on youths of the country to secure their future by supporting the anti-graft agencies like EFCC.
The directorate urged Nigerian youths to resist gratification from politicians and perceived looters of the national treasury during the 2019 general elections.
“We should also resist bribe from elites because it is our common resources and desist from any corrupt practices.
According to the statement, “the NYCN commends and encourages the acting Chairman of EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, for the commission’s drive to fight corruption.
“The NYCN under the leadership of Mr Murtala Garba, express its gratitude to Mr. Ibrahim Magu for endorsing and decorating 11 young Nigerians as Youth Ambassadors on Anti – Corruption on July 19, 2017.
“With this singular act, we pledge our total commitment and support to the commission and also call on Nigerian youths to resist and unite against corruption”.
It said that the fight against corruption was a solution to national development, youth empowerment and employment.
According to the statement, the only way youths can secure their destinies in Nigeria is to support the fight against corruption and desist from any form of corrupt practice.
It said the common resources designed to guarantee and protect the future of the youth were being stashed away by few individuals through corrupt practices.
The EFCC acting chairman had recently decorated some Nigerian youths as ambassadors of anti corruption in the country.
They include Obinna Nwaka (Imo), Haruna Okatahi (Kogi), Oscar David (Abia), Sule Yakubu (Taraba), Francis Mbashinya (Benue), Kelechi Ugwumba (Imo).
Others are Adedotun Omoleye (Ekiti) , Johnson Ojigwo (Abia), Ahmad Geidam (Yobe), Blessing Omme (Benue), Kehinde Awujoola (Ekiti) and Innocent Okoh (Benue).
The ambassadors had pledged their commitment to organise anti-corruption programmes aimed at raising the consciousness of the youth on the dangers of corruption. (NAN)