Some unemployed youths, on Tuesday , stormed the residence of the PDP gubernatorial candidate in Nasarawa State, Yusuf Agabi, appealing to him for employment if he is elected governor.
The youths also decried the treatment meted to workers in the state by the present government in the state, describing the delay in the payment of salaries as unfortunate.
It would be recalled that in recent times, owing to what the governor Al-Makura-led administration said was the slide in its allocation from the federation account, workers used to face delay in getting their salaries.
In fact, workers at the local councils have gone past three months without getting paid their salaries.
The youths, under the auspices of Nasarawa State Association of Graduates, Artisans and Professionals (UAGAP), said that the Al-Makura-led government has failed woefully in discharging its responsibility to the state, workers and, in particular, the unemployed youths.
They alleged that the government has, since its assumption of office in 2011, failed to recruit workers, while several workers have been unjustifiably retrenched by the government and replaced by the family members and friends of the governor.
The youths, during the visit, carried placards reading thus: “AlMakura, Employ Nasarawa Youths,” “We Are Graduates, Employ Us” and “Pay Our Parents Their Salaries.”
Leader of the group, Ashedzi Paul, said they have appealed to the government, through their representatives at the state and National Assemblies, commissioners, governor’s advisers and local governments’ officials for the governor to lift the embargo on employment, all to no avail.
Paul said that since there was no response from the government, the youths, representing thousands of others, decided to visit Agabi to pledge their support for him ahead of the April 11 poll , adding that they were not asking him for money but gainful employment for the youths of Nasarawa when he becomes the governor.
She said that no youth was employed in the state’s civil service for some years now, adding that the youths, and people of Nasarawa in general, were happy with the way Agabi has so far conducted his campaign, devoid of violence, in spite of provocations from the governor’s supporters.
She maintained that they would provide peaceful atmosphere for the Agabi to complete his campaign on schedule and in peace, calling on the candidate to live up to his campaign and social responsibilities.
In his address, Agabi promised to address the grievances of the youths on his assumption of office as governor.
He commended the youths for their peaceful disposition.
