By Kazeem Akolawole
A coalition of youths, under the aegis of African Health Budget Network (AHBN)’s, Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Engagement (MAYE) group, has called on the Nigerian political leaders, particularly emergent winners at all levels in the 2023 general elections to upscale health funding to 15 percent of the national budget.
In an open letter to all political parties and their candidates, signed by the Chair, Nigeria Meaningful Adolescent and Youth Working Group, Olympus Ade-Banjo also urged political stakeholders to recognize adolescents and youth as part of vulnerable population for social health insurance.
The youths further seek increased training capacity of health workers in institutions to mitigate low human resource, implement and Domesticate Mental Health Bill and Reduce the age of access to HIV testing to 14 in curbing its spread
On education, the youths also requested for expansion of basic education from 9 years to 12 years, Student Bill of Rights passage, provision of student loan system
They also demanded “Overhaul of Tertiary Education Curriculum, creation of meaningful occupational counseling structures, provision of micro-finance facility to young peoples’ micro & small scale businesses.
“Institutionalization of robust labour register at all government levels, upward review of the minimum wages, enforcement of the provision of all employment benefits.”
On human rights, the youths also called on government to ensure full implementation of the anti-torture and Police reforms acts, ensure nationwide implementation of the child rights acts, ensure nationwide implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) act, establishment of human rights and legal aid desk at all law enforcement stations
They also canvassed “Provision of adequate mental health and welfare support for law enforcement agents, ensure a decisive reforestation and irrigation program, ensure nationwide 24-Hours electrification as cleaner alternative to fossil fuel-run generators, complete the construction of the Dasin Hausa Dam to mitigate recurrent flooding.”
On inclusion, the youths also want political stakeholders to priotise passage and implementation of the Gender and Equal Opportunity bill as well as ensure full implementation of the ‘Discrimination Against Persons with Disability (Prohibition) Act’
They demanded that “An inclusive learning environment for persons with dyslexia in all educational institutions be ensured as well as abolishment of ‘state of origin’ and adoption of state of residence’ in public opportunities and reserve the leadership of ministry of youth and sport for young people.”
