Oxfam faults 0% inclusion of under-35 youths in Nigeria’s cabinet

 

By Hadiza Abdulrahman

Oxfam Nigeria has described the total exclusion of young people under 35 from the Federal Cabinet as a strategic misstep that threatens the nation’s future. 

Speaking at the “Next 90%: Youth, Policy and A Fairer Nigeria” Dialogue in Abuja organised in partnership with the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Oxfam’s Country Director,  Mr John Makina said the lack of youth representation in top decision-making positions is a missed opportunity to tap into the innovation and energy of Nigeria’s majority population.

Makina emphasized that youth inclusion in governance is not just a question of fairness, but a national imperative.

“This is about peace, development, and the future of our country. We cannot afford to sideline 70% of our population and expect progress,” he said.

He called for structural changes that would empower young people to participate meaningfully in political and economic spaces.

While spotlighting youth exclusion, the Oxfam Country Director also addressed Nigeria’s staggering inequality, likening the country’s wealth distribution to a banquet where 10% of the population consumes 90% of resources, leaving 90% of citizens to share the remaining 10%.

“Over 83 million Nigerians live on less than ₦3,100 a day. That’s a crisis,” he warned.

Makina also highlighted the devastating impact of corporate tax incentives, revealing that Nigeria lost over N5 trillion in 2024 alone to tax waivers for large corporations funds that could have been used to strengthen public services such as health, education, and social protection. He urged the implementation of wealth and excess profit taxes to address the imbalance.

He hinted the persistent gender inequality in Nigeria, stating that systemic gender biases continue to deny women access to economic opportunities, political offices, and basic rights.

Today is not just about pointing out the problems. It’s about solutions. It’s about hope. We need everyone—government, private sector, and young people themselves to commit to building a Nigeria that works for the next 90%, not just the privileged few.” he said.

Nabila Aguele, Nigeria Director at the Malala Fund, was critical of Nigeria’s dismal performance on gender equity, referencing the country’s 123rd place out of 146 countries on the 2022 Global Gender Gap Index.

“Gender inequality is a central driver of our broader inequality. It weakens social cohesion, hurts our economy, and holds us back from inclusive development,” she said, warning that no nation can prosper without advancing the rights of women and girls.

The Malala Fund Director also emphasized the importance of local, community-driven solutions. “We do not implement in Nigeria.

Aguele applauded youth-led efforts in designing gender-sensitive education policies, budgeting, and accountability mechanisms, while criticizing a development culture that often excludes the most affected.

“Equity isn’t achieved when those most impacted are left out. It’s achieved when their experiences shape policy design and implementation,” she said.

Aguele appealled to policymakers: focus on outcomes, not just outputs. “Don’t just count programs launched or roads built. Measure how many lives have been improved. How many girls completed school with dignity and safety because of those roads? How many communities now have real opportunity because of those programs?”

She also called for increased public investment in human capital, especially education and health and for the reform of Nigeria’s tax system to make it more equitable and progressive.