By OLATUNDE AJAYI

The Yoruba Youth Socio-Cultural Association (YYSA), the umbrella body for Yoruba youths, has condemned the alleged exclusion of its members from appointments into the newly established South West Development Commission (SWDC).

Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Ibadan, the National President of YYSA, Olalekan Hammed, expressed disappointment over the non-inclusion of any representative from the group.

Hammed described YYSA as the leading civil society organisation representing youths in the region.

“In the Nigerian Constitution, there is adequate provision for the inclusion of civil society representatives when appointments are made into Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) of government,” Hammed said.

“Our non-inclusion in the newly constituted board of the SWDC is unjust and violates the constitutional provision for civil society representation.”

Hammed further noted that the group might consider staging a peaceful protest on June 12 if the alleged oversight was not corrected before then.

It will be recalled that President Bola Tinubu, in a correspondence to the Senate on Thursday, nominated 18 persons to serve on the board of the SWDC.

The list includes Sen. Olubunmi Adetunbi as Chairman and Charles Akinola as Managing Director.

The President also requested the Senate to screen and confirm nominees for the boards of the North Central Development Commission, and the South South Development Commission.

These regional bodies were established to fast-track infrastructural development, stimulate economic growth, and improve social welfare in their respective zones. (NAN)