The bad news is that the 15- billion Marshal Youth Plan is simply no more. Several painful questions beg honest answers.First, why did the government allow bureacracy to impede the success of the programme? We could have allowed the Ministry of Youth affairs to man the programme rather than allowing the busy PM's office and provincial administration to coordinate it. Besides, there seemed to have been no checks and balances in the disbursement of the programme funds.
Secondly, why did we have to throw transparency and accountability in the management of the programme funds? Apparently, this has been this country's major undoing in the management of similar projects. The fact that the death of the initiative came as a shock to many youth who depended on it for employment is disturbing.
There should have proper channels of communication as how much money has been disbursed, how much has been allocated for each project activity, when the funds will be paid, and honest explanation incase of there are delays in paying the youth.
Thirdly, are we going to allow a few people to oppress the vulnerable through their appetite for corruption? The youth have sacrificed time and energy to get community development projects completed. They offered their blood, toil, and sweat only a few people to shortchange them. This should be the last thing that should happen if we care about the youth in this country.
The bottom line is that we can allow ourselves to shatter the hopes and livelihoods of the youth with such sickening abandon. A bitter young population is a recipe of serious social and economic problems in this country.
Thirdly, are we going to allow a few people to oppress the vulnerable through their appetite for corruption? The youth have sacrificed time and energy to get community development projects completed. They offered their blood, toil, and sweat only a few people to shortchange them. This should be the last thing that should happen if we care about the youth in this country.
The bottom line is that we can allow ourselves to shatter the hopes and livelihoods of the youth with such sickening abandon. A bitter young population is a recipe of serious social and economic problems in this country.
The provision of employment to the youth should be a priority and a matter of national urgency. Those who thwart the efforts of the government in youth employment creation should regarded as enemies of Vision 2030.
We should never allow anyone to use and dump the young people. Empowerment of the youth is a sure key that unlocks development in any nation. In the words of Benjamin Disraeli, the youth of a nation are the trustees of its posterity.
Chris
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