CDHR Rejects President Tinubu’s Proposal for 30-Day Youth Congress

The Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has rejected President Bola Tinubu's proposal to host a 30-day youth congress. The congress, which was announced during the President’s Independence Day broadcast, aims to address the various opportunities and challenges facing Nigerian youth. President Tinubu expressed hope that the event would facilitate significant dialogue and encourage youth, who make up over 60% of the population, to actively participate in nation-building.

However, CDHR spokesperson Debo Adeniran criticized the initiative, asserting that such a congress would not yield any meaningful results. He emphasized that the youth have already made their demands clear, particularly during the #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protests, and that another convention is unnecessary.

In Adeniran’s words, “What this administration needs to do is to address some of the issues raised during the #EndSARS and #EndBadGovernance protests.”

Adeniran pointed out that one of the primary demands of the youth is the reintroduction of fuel subsidies to alleviate economic hardships. He argued that hosting a congress would only be a waste of resources, which are already limited.

Additionally, he suggested that instead of providing student loans, the government should offer more grants and scholarships. Adeniran also called for free education, at least at the primary and intermediate levels, to reduce the burden on the population.