OECD Consultation: Building Citizen Centred Policies & Services - Groupes virtuels - Communauté

Message

De:	"Sunny Bits" [ Profil ]
Sujet:	Re : [OECD-CCPS] Welcome to the E-Consultation
Envoyé:	May 13th, 2008 - 14:05:04

	My name is Sunday Bitrus from Nasarawa State - Nigeria. 1. Do you feel the views of young people are sufficiently included in designing public policy? What are the barriers to participation? Young people traditionally in this part of the world are not considered in designing, policy or decision-making. The are considered as those who implement these policies or at least assist in carrying it out. This same attitude has been carried on to the modern system of government in Nigeria. Only recently, during a stakeholders forum on these issues, we have had to come to terms with that fact that even the National Youth Policy does not have the input of the youth. One of our case studies is the current administration's 7 Plus 1 Agenda, we have scrutinised it and room was not made for young people to contribute to its formation, talk more of its implementation. Some people may posit that there are young people in these formation, yet it dare say the involvement of young people is very low and thus young people are not sufficiently included in public policy design. Some of the barriers include but are not limited to the fact that our general orientation of being seen as the future. I read somewhere...people worry about that their children should grow and be someone tomorrow and they forget that they are someone today. On the other hand, the young people do not help matters. Formation of coalition, youth activism is often viewed from a skewed perspective of terrorizing people, violence or being social misfits. These and much more I believe form a basis for the non-involvement of young people. 2. What steps can governments take to facilitate greater youth participation? I think it has to do with RESPECT. Governments should know in-as-much-as they are in power today, if they do not include these young people who are meant to be the future now, they will be the ones to suffer when these young ones handle the mantle of leadership, because they will be bereft of the necessary experience needed to steer the country. Opportunities should be opened for young people to be involved in governance at some level. For example in Nigeria the minimum age to be voted for is 35 Years. So all those who are 34.9 and below are not qualified to hold elective positions yet we have egg heads below the stipulated age who can turn the country around for good. That has to be looked into. Government must also listen to the little genuine, civilian youth organisations who come together to look at ways of moving their country forward. Like the Nigerian Youth Forum NYF sponsored by British Council Initiative. I rest my case here for now.

		Groupes virtuels Optimisé par TakingITGlobal