Northern Youth Council to join October 1st protest over economic hardship

The Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has announced plans to mobilize Nigerians for a peaceful protest on October 1st, 2024.

The group, through its Director of Public Communications, Hussaini Shuaibu, made this declaration in a statement released in Kaduna on Monday.

According to Shuaibu, the protest aims to hold the government accountable for the ongoing economic challenges facing the nation, particularly in northern Nigeria, where the impact has been most severe.

He stressed that the protest is grounded in the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens, citing sections 38 to 42 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees free association, the expression of views, and the right to peaceful mobilization.

Shuaibu said despite the government’s promise to address the concerns raised by protesters during the August 2024 demonstrations, the issues remain unresolved and have worsened in some cases two months later.

“The government promised to address the issues raised during the protests, but instead of progress, the situation has worsened,” Shuaibu said.

He added that the NYCN feels compelled to act, particularly because northern Nigeria has been the hardest hit by these economic and political crises.

“As such, we are mobilising and sensitising the people to come out and continue to protest peacefully, the unbearable hardship until the government agrees to act responsibly and respond to the issues promptly and decisively,” Shuaibu said.

The Independence Day protest, according to the NYCN, is not just a symbolic action but a necessary step to “prick the conscience” of Nigerian leaders.

“Since the government seems overwhelmed by these responsibilities, it is our duty to ensure we have a better Nigeria that we all can be proud of,” Shuaibu concluded.