By Archibong Jeremiah
There was a brief altercation in the office of the Cross River State Commissioner for Youths and Sports Development, Mr. Asu Okang, on his first day in office where he chastised the State Chairman of National Youth Council of Nigeria, NYCN Benard Okori for informing him that the NYCN Head Office in the State is the Ministry’s conference room.
The Commissioner who did not take the message kindly said, “National Youth Council of Nigeria does not have a secretariat? So how do you meet? How do you project your policy? How do you drive your programs?” he questioned Bernard.
Swiftly Okori replied, “We usually meet here in this conference hall.”
The Commissioner interrupts him saying, “We understand there is collaboration with the State Government and you should have your secretariat…”
Again the Youth Council Chairman quickly responded: “The past administration has given land for the building of our secretariat, we are yet to develop it. The plot is where the current NYSC is located; it was given by way of pronouncement”.
The Commissioner who was still not satisfied with the explanation interrupted again…“When government makes a policy it is incumbent on that beneficiary to do a follow up through the right agency, so you have not followed up, government made a pronouncement and you did not follow up with Ministry of Land how do you expect to get the land? He asked.
“You must ensure you get the certificate of occupancy and lay a foundation fast”. He concluded.