IN THE QUEST FOR A YOUTH FRIENDLY CONSTITUTION: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
Dear All,
I bring you greetings from the
secretariat of the National Youth Movement for Constitutional Review (NYMCR). I
wish to brief us on some of our modest efforts and activities on constitutional
review.
- Who
we Are:
The National Youth Movement for Constitutional Review (NYMCR) is a
coalition of youths and youth groups from a broad spectrum of Nigerian society.
This coalition was necessitated as a result of the sensitive and inclusive nature
of constitutional review process and thus the need to carry every Nigerian
youth along. The NYMCR is made up of National Youth Council of Nigeria, Youth
NGOs, Youths in Faith Based Organizations (Youth Wing of the Christian
Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs), Young
Trade Union Leaders Initiative (NLC), Youths in Political Parties, Youths
Living with Disabilities (JONAPWD), Unemployed Youths, Youths in Diaspora and
Professional Youths and Youths in school (NANS). The National Youth
Coordinating Committee for Constitutional Review (NYCCCR) is the leadership arm
of the NYMCR. At its inaugural meeting held on 22nd June, 2012, the
NYMCR decided to host its secretariat at the Alliance for Credible Elections
(ACE-NIGERIA). ACE-NIGERIA also serves as the secretariat of the Civil Society
Coordinating Committee on Constitutional Review.
- Why
the NYMCR – Our Experience
Most of the members of the National Youth Coordinating Committee on
Constitutional Review (NYCCCR) have participated in recent past constitutional
review processes. During the last constitutional review process that preceded
the 2011 general elections, a number of youth groups made demands to the
constitutional review committee. As a result of inadequate awareness, poor
organizing, and low capacity to engage, youth issues were not given the
attention they required. Learning from that experience, the National Youth
Movement for Constitutional Review (NYMCR) has been availed to Nigerian youths
as a platform to connect young voices together for maximum impact especially
with regards to the accommodation of youth interests in the ongoing
constitutional review process.
- Youth
Mobilization:
In order to create a national cum grassroots oriented consciousness on
mainstreaming youth issues in the constitutional review process, the National
Youth Coordinating Committee on Constitutional Review (NYCCCR) has identified
37 state coordinators from all the 36 states in Nigeria, including the FCT. The
State Coordinators, working with the Regional Coordinators, have identified a
significant number of organizers at the local government level. This is perhaps
the first of a nationwide organizing of Nigerian youths from all the spectrum
of society for constitutional review. It is expected that this bottom up
approach in organizing will facilitate the participation of every segment of
youth in all the nook and cranny of Nigeria at every level of the
constitutional review process. This nationwide grassroots based organizing will
be most useful during the Zonal Public Hearings and the State Houses of
Assembly Hearings on constitutional review. We have also deployed the
traditional and social media channels (Facebook,
Twitter, Google Groups, and Email Serve Lists) to reach millions of Nigerian
youths.
- Advocacy
Engagement:
In tandem with our robust strategic action plan, we have embarked on a
number of advocacy engagements with key stakeholders. The Memorandum on
Nigerian Youth Position on Constitutional Review has been submitted to the
Senate and House Ad hoc Committees on Constitutional Review. We have also
engaged the secretariat and consultants to the Senate and House Committees on
Constitutional Review. Our Delta State Coordinator, Comrade Okelum Okonta, is representing NYMCR at the Senate Retreat
on Constitutional Review. Furthermore, the NYMCR has scheduled advocacy visits
to the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives upon resumption
from break. Part of our Strategic Action Plan is to pay advocacy visits to
other key stakeholders in the constitutional review process including the
Speakers Conference, Nigeria Governors Forum, National Orientation Agency,
Media Houses and Mass based Partner Organizations.
- NEXT IMMEDIATE STEPS:
a) Youth Stakeholders Review Meeting and Press
Conference on Mainstreaming Youth Issues in Constitutional Review Process:
In order to brainstorm on the journey so far, formally ratify NYMCR
working documents and keep youth constitutional issues on the front burner of
national discourse, the NYMCR plans to hold a Youth Stakeholders Review Meeting
and Press Conference on Mainstreaming Youth Issues in the current
Constitutional Review Process. In order to save cost and preserve the
environment, our regional coordinators who are not resident in Abuja will
reduce their carbon footprint by joining the Review Meeting/Press Conference
Online Real Time through Teleconferencing.
b) Capacity Building for Youth Leaders
Engaging the Constitutional Review Process
In order to address the problem of poor capacity among young people
working on constitutional review, the NYMCR plans to hold a 2 day capacity
building training for the leadership of the NYMCR and other youth leaders
working on constitutional review.
c) Youth Awareness Campaign and Advocacy
Visits
The NYMCR plans to hold a strategic Youth Friendly Constitution
Awareness Campaign through a Keep Fit Walking Exercise to be held in Abuja.
There will also be advocacy visits to key stakeholders in Abuja.
d) National Youth Multi-Media Multilogue
In order to reach a broad spectrum of Nigerian youths, NYMCR will
organize a National Youth Multi-media Multilogue in commemoration of Nigeria’s
52 Independence. This is an opportunity on the part of the NYMCR to further
sensitize Nigerian youths on the need to make their voices heard in the
on-going constitutional review process and for Nigerian youths to truly make
their inputs into a Constitution that would determine both their today and
tomorrow.
LAST WORD:
Nigerian youths have demonstrated the will, commitment and resourcefulness
to achieve a Youth Friendly Constitution. In this project, every Nigerian youth
is a stakeholder and a leader…Let us SERVE
OUR CONSTITUENCY, COMMUNITIES AND COUNTRY IN ORDER TO BETTER OUR TODAY AND
SECURE OUR TOMORROW…YES WE CAN…YES, WE SURELY WILL….
Asuzu Echezona
Facilitating Secretary,
National Youth Coordinating Committee for Constitutional Review (NYCCCR)
No comments:
Post a Comment