The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) headquarters in Abuja witnessed heavy protest on Thursday as over 3,000 members of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) demonstrated against the withdrawal of the Council’s registration certificate.
The protesters, chanting solidarity songs and holding placards, accused the Commission of acting unlawfully and defying a Federal High Court judgment which had earlier upheld the legal status of the NYCN.
Many of the demonstrators expressed anger over what they described as an attempt to silence the voice of Nigerian youths, calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene urgently.
Background: CAC’s Deregistration Decision
The protest follows CAC’s recent decision to deregister the NYCN in line with provisions of the Companies and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2020.
According to reports, the Commission not only withdrew the Council’s registration certificate but also constituted an Interim Management Committee to run the NYCN’s affairs for one year — a move that has been met with sharp criticism nationwide.
CAC claimed that the deregistration followed alleged irregularities and compliance violations within the Council’s corporate filings.
However, the NYCN leadership insists the decision is illegal, citing a Federal High Court ruling affirming NYCN’s certificate as valid and prohibiting CAC from tampering with it pending an appeal before the Court of Appeal.
NYCN Leadership Reacts
Leaders of the National Youth Council condemned the CAC’s move as a “blatant disregard for the rule of law.”
One of the national executives said:
“The court has already affirmed our legal standing. CAC’s action is not only contemptuous but a calculated attempt to undermine Nigerian youths.”
The Council further described the appointment of an interim management committee as null and void, urging the federal government to call CAC to order.
Legal Battle and Court Developments
The deregistration crisis is the latest episode in a prolonged legal and leadership tussle within the Council.
The Federal High Court had earlier ruled in NYCN’s favour, affirming its registration as lawful and binding. However, the CAC has since appealed the decision, and the case is currently pending at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
Legal analysts argue that any administrative action by CAC while the case is sub judice may amount to contempt of court, potentially escalating the institutional crisis between the Commission and youth representatives.
Implications for Nigerian Youths
The National Youth Council of Nigeria serves as the umbrella body for all registered youth organizations across the country. The ongoing crisis has raised fears of disruption in youth advocacy and development programmes, as the Council plays a key role in national mobilization and policy engagement.
Stakeholders warn that prolonged uncertainty could undermine youth participation in governance and weaken institutional trust between government agencies and the youth constituency.
Calls for Peace and Dialogue
Civil society groups and youth advocates have appealed for calm, urging both the CAC and NYCN to resolve the issue through dialogue rather than confrontation.
A coalition of youth leaders called on the Ministry of Youth Development to step in as a mediator to ensure that due process and the interest of Nigerian youths are protected.