Ukorebi Esien | October 8, 2025
CALABAR –The recent decision by the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to withdraw the registration certificate of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has continued to generate nationwide reactions, with youth leaders and government officials urging calm, dialogue, and respect for due process.
While the development has raised concerns about the legal status of the apex youth body in Nigeria, key stakeholders in Cross River State have maintained that the state's youth leadership remains intact and functional.
Speaking in Calabar, the Chairman of the NYCN Cross River State Chapter, His Youthfulness Emmanuel Olayi, described the viral document announcing the delisting as "unofficial and unconfirmed," noting that no formal correspondence has been received from either the Federal Ministry of Youth or the CAC.
"We have seen flying news here and there about the delisting of the National Youth Council of Nigeria, but as of this morning, the status of the council is still active on CAC's portal," Olayi said.
"For us in Cross River, there is no crisis. The youth of the state are united, peaceful, and working together. Our structure remains intact under my leadership," he assured.
Olayi, who emphasized that leadership struggles were natural in large organizations, appealed to national actors to prioritize peace and the unity of Nigerian youths over power tussles.
"We should not continue to fight over what we should not fight over. Our generation deserves peace, not endless power struggles," he added.
"Action in Contempt of Court" — NYCN National Deputy Secretary
Corroborating Olayi's position, the Deputy National Secretary of NYCN, Prince Ndiyo Ndiyo described CAC's action as a possible contempt of court, alleging that an existing appeal court judgment had restrained the commission and the Federal Ministry of Youth from taking such steps.
"Before now, there was a court judgment barring CAC and the Ministry from delisting the Youth Council. If it is true that CAC has gone ahead with this, it is contempt of court," he stated.
Prince Ndiye insisted that the NYCN remains a legally recognized institution and not a factional body, dismissing suggestions that the action affects the state structures.
"Cross River and other states remain intact. Nobody has withdrawn Sokubo's presidency; what they are fighting is the entire youth council system, not an individual," he maintained.
He, however, called on all stakeholders to "choose dialogue over destruction" to preserve youth representation in national policy processes.
We Await Federal Directive — Cross River Commissioner for Youth
Reacting to the development, the Cross River State Commissioner for Youth Development, Barr. Ijom Ukam, said the state government was aware of the situation but would wait for official communication from the Federal Ministry of Youth before taking any action.
"CAC is legally empowered to regulate corporate entities in Nigeria. However, as a sub-national, we await the directive from the Federal Ministry of Youth on what steps to take," the Commissioner stated.
On the legal controversy surrounding the move, Ukam said the action appeared to be post-election, following the disputed national congress of the NYCN, rather than a pre-emptive move.
"The delisting does not mean the Council cannot be re-listed if it puts its house in order. Once the internal crisis is resolved, the CAC may have no reason not to restore its registration," he added.
Analysts Question Oversight and Youth Representation
Analysts and youth observers say the situation exposes long-standing tensions between the Federal Ministry of Youth, the CAC, and NYCN leadership: particularly regarding oversight, transition, and autonomy. They warn that unless addressed through dialogue, the move could weaken youth representation nationwide, disrupt state-level programs, and affect Nigeria's engagement with international youth development partners.
Call for Peace and Reconciliation
As the controversy unfolds, the consensus among stakeholders remains clear: the need for dialogue, reconciliation, and institutional reform to safeguard youth governance in Nigeria.
In the words of the Cross River NYCN Chairman:
"Our youth must learn to build bridges, not walls. Power comes and goes, but unity keeps the dream of a better Nigeria alive."
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