RE: PRESIDENT TINUBU’S 2ND ANNIVERSARY ADDRESS – A SCATHING CRITIQUE FROM THE UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT, SOCIETY FOR THE WELFARE OF UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS OF NIGERIA (SWUYN), COMR. PREYE V. TAMBOU

May 30th, 2025

As we mark 2 years of President Tinubu’s administration, the Society for the Welfare of Unemployed Youths of Nigeria (SWUYN), take this opportunity to address His Excellency on behalf of the millions of unemployed, poor and hungry Nigerians. We have heard your words, and we appreciate your acknowledgment of our struggles.

SWUYN have taken note of Mr. President’s address on the second anniversary of your administration, while we understand the need for economic reforms and acknowledge the efforts made to stabilise the economy and implement the reforms, we cannot help but feel that our plight remains largely unaddressed. The reality on the ground is harsh.

The harsh realities of inflation, unemployment, starvation and poverty continue to weigh heavily on us. The removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of foreign exchange windows have increased the cost of living, making it difficult for us to afford basic necessities. Hunger and hardship are rampant. The empowerment initiatives and social welfare programmes have not reached the most vulnerable populations. The benefits of growth and development seem to be concentrated among a select few, the rich. The rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer. We struggle to access healthcare, education, business grant and job opportunities.

We are struggling to survive due to high electricity tariff bills, poor internal roads, lack of basic amenities like electricity in rural areas, inadequate hospitals and educational infrastructure, limited access to food, business startup capital, and resources, and an unsustainable minimum wage of 70k that cannot do anything for a family of 2 – 7 and more. Mr. President the situation is more dire than you think, with many families unable to pay bills, transportation, children drugs, baby foods, school fees, and house rents because the cost of these necessities have tripled. People are hungry, frustrated, and angry.

We question the rationale behind removing subsidies if not to improve the welfare of ordinary citizens. What happens to the funds generated from subsidy removal? Where are they being allocated?

Meanwhile, the Federal and State borrowing has tripled. We demand transparency and accountability in the management of these funds. How are they being utilized to benefit the citizens?

SWUYN welcome initiatives like the student loan scheme, youth empowerment programmes, and social investment schemes. We believe in your Renewed Hope Agenda and are willing to partner with you to build a stronger, more inclusive Nigeria. We need to see more tangible results and increased access to these opportunities. We need to feel the impact of your policies in our daily lives.

SWUYN particularly acknowledge and commend the President’s initiative on the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), which has been beneficial to many students but our commendation is tempered by recent disturbing reports of alleged embezzlement and mismanagement of these funds by some university management teams.

The ICPC’s investigation into discrepancies in the disbursement of student loans is a welcome development. We urge the agency to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation, and for those found culpable to face the full weight of the law.

Notably, we acknowledge Mr. President’s decision to include 30% youths in governance, although we are constrained to observe that the implementation seems skewed, with an apparent over representation of youths from certain regions, particularly the South-West, while youths from other regions, including the South-South, South-East, and the Norths, are noticeably underrepresented.

SWUYN implore you to ensure that the inclusion of youths in governance as promised is done in a fair and equitable manner, reflecting the diversity and geographical spread of our great nation. It is essential that youths from all regions feel carried and gainfully employed, rather than being left out. We implore you to revisit this policy and ensure that it is implemented in a way that promotes true inclusivity, diversity, and regional representation.

SWUYN also acknowledge other youthful initiatives like the Nigerian Youth Investment Fund (NYIF), 3 Million Technical Talent (3MTT), the Digital Literacy for All (DL4ALL), Nigerian Youth Academy (NiYA), Nigerian Youth Internship Programme, and the Youth Help Desk, initiated by the Federal Ministry of Youths Development. While these initiatives have been good and helpful, we regret to say that they have not really reached the unemployed, poor, and most vulnerable who really need them. They seems to be at conceptualision, planning or prototyping stage as we are not feeling their impacts.

The reality is that good initiatives often have limited accessibility, and many of our common youths have yet to benefit from these programmes. Some of us have registered for these programmes since last year, but there has been no evidence of materialisation. Still, we are hopeful that these initiatives will eventually reach those who need them most, and not end being the usual political gimmicks as seen in the past governments.

The Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction has also carried out some thoughtful humanitarian initiatives, and acknowledge these efforts. However, we are particularly disappointed with the Skill to Wealth Programme recently launched, which we found to be lopsided, hijacked by political elites, and with a flawed selection process that only benefits a select few. The benefits are not evenly distributed to all regions, and most importantly, the unemployed youths like us were sidelined after we appealed to the Minister to be carried along with his ministry’s schemes of youths empowerment.

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has also launched initiatives aimed at boosting food production and food security, such as the provision of fertilizers, seeds, and other inputs to farmers. We are disappointed that these initiatives are not reaching the unemployed youths. Many of us have the potential and desire to contribute to the agricultural sector, but we lack the opportunities and support.

SWUYN express strong disappointment with the Ministries of Labour and Employment, Blue Economy, Creative Economy and Art, and other Ministries, agencies with youth-driven initiatives that are not functioning properly. The promises of job creation, skills acquisition, and empowerment have not materialized, leaving many of us without hope and opportunities.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment’s initiatives to promote job creation and protect workers’ rights have been ineffective, and the unemployment rate continues to soar. The Ministry of Creative Economy and Art’s initiatives to promote creativity and innovation have also been disappointing, with many of our creative talents struggling to access funding and support.

We can go on and on listing your government ministries and agencies’ initiatives that are ineffective, and most of our youths have regretted applying because we end up applying and the agencies end up sidelining and sharing the slots amongst the political class and their cronies. The selection processes are often flawed, and the programmes are poorly sustainable. It is disheartening to see that despite the numerous initiatives, the majority of Nigerian youths remain unemployed, un-empowered, and without hope.

Mr. President, we would like to remind you of some of your promises to the youths that you are yet to fulfill. Notably, the National Youth Confab promised since August last year is yet to materialise. We are losing patience already, and it is imperative that you deliver on this promise to give Nigerian youths a platform to engage and contribute to the development of our nation.

We urge you to revisit these initiatives and ensure that they are implemented in a way that promotes fairness, equity, and inclusivity. It is essential that the most vulnerable members of society, including unemployed youths, are given priority and supported to break the cycle of poverty.

Mr. President, we are not just statistics; we are human beings with hopes, dreams, and aspirations. We want to contribute to the growth and development of our nation, but we need your support.

We remain hopeful that your administration will continue to work towards creating a brighter future for all Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable.

Signed

Comr. Preye V. Tambou
National President, SWUYN