The Arewa Youth Assembly for Good Leadership has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for appointing Abba Abubakar Aliyu as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Rural Electrification Agency, describing the decision as evidence of merit-based leadership.
In a press statement issued in Abuja on Thursday and signed by its President, Alhaji Danbature Abdul, the group also praised the Honourable Minister of Power, Mr. Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, for providing strategic policy direction to the power sector.
The youth organization, which represents interests of young people in Northern Nigeria, said Aliyu’s appointment reflects the administration’s willingness to entrust capable young Nigerians with responsibility for national development.
*REA projects across the North*
Citing the agency’s project documentation, the group said the REA under Aliyu has implemented electrification projects in 16 Northern states including Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Taraba, Borno and Yobe.
According to the statement, the interventions have extended electricity to universities, hospitals, primary healthcare centres, schools, markets, agricultural clusters, religious institutions, small businesses and rural communities that previously lacked reliable power.
The group noted that the projects have contributed to improved healthcare delivery, expanded educational opportunities, increased agricultural productivity and created jobs for young people in rural areas.
“The outstanding performance of the Rural Electrification Agency under the leadership of Abba Abubakar Aliyu is a clear indication that Nigerian youths possess the capacity, innovation and patriotism required to transform public institutions,” the statement said.
*Calls for more youth appointments and accountability*
The Arewa Youth Assembly urged President Tinubu to appoint more competent and result-oriented young Nigerians, particularly from Northern Nigeria, into strategic positions, arguing that youth inclusion would accelerate development at the grassroots.
It also called on Ministries, Departments and Agencies to emulate the REA by translating public resources into visible projects, and asked the President to institute periodic performance evaluations of MDAs. Agencies that fail to meet their mandates despite funding, it said, should have their leadership reviewed.
*Concern over Almajiri Commission*
While commending agencies with measurable impact, the group expressed concern over the performance of the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children Education.
Given the scale of out-of-school children, especially in Northern Nigeria, the Assembly said the Commission should be delivering greater results and called on the President to critically review its performance and take decisions to ensure better outcomes for vulnerable children.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to good governance, accountability, youth inclusion and national unity, and pledged support for efforts aimed at improving the lives of Nigerians under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The statement was e-signed by Alhaji Danbature Abdul, President, Arewa Youths.
