By; AMOS TAUNA, Kaduna
The Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN), has expressed concerns overthe alleged report that the federal government through NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank plans to give loans to 1,500 Ex Niger Delta militants to enable them start businesses of their choice. Comrade Isah Abubakar and Comrade Mock Samuel Kure, President and Director General, Media and Publicity ofNYCN in a joint statement made available to New Nigerian in Kaduna on Tuesday, stated, “The attention of the Northern Youths Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has been drawn to a viral report wherein it stated that the Federal government, through NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank PLC have concluded plans to dish out loans to 1,500 Ex Niger-Delta Militants to enable them start businesses of their choice.”
The Arewa youths explained that they are shocked that despite what they described as “the humongous amount” that is released monthly to the presidential Amnesty Office, the government is still planning to dish out billions to scoundrels who once raised arms against the state and threatened the country’s national unity.
According to the statement, the council notes that, the action of the management of the NIRSAL MFB if not call to order, is capable of making the country’s able bodied graduates who are roaming the streets and have tried in vain to secure the Federal Government Facility to consider venturing into crime seems only shortest and surest way of getting the government’s attention and interventions.
“We are aware that the NIRSAL Micro Finance Bank is being funded by our common wealth domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria, hence, the activities of the Bank must Follow the tenet of Federal of Character. Meaning, Ex Criminals must be treated equally with law abiding citizens,” the statement observed.
Where the Bank insist on going ahead to favour a section of the country at the detriment of others, the council will have no other option than to call on the appropriate Committee in both Chambers of the National Assembly responsible for ensuring compliance in the principle of Federal Character to probe the disbursement that have been made by the bank since it inception.
The youths said where they fail to do so, they won’t hesitate to seek legal redress at the same time, but however, called on the members to occupy the streets until they are treated equally in Nigeria project.
