Northern Youths, under the umbrella of the Arewa Youths Assembly (AYA), have vowed to embark on mass protest if the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) goes ahead with proposed job cuts, saying the initiative of the apex bank is anti-North.

In a statement issued, yesterday, in Kaduna by the Speaker of AYA, Muhammed Salihu Danlami, the group described the proposed action as a profound injustice against the Nigerian people, particularly those from the Northern region”.

He said: “At a time when our nation is grappling with severe economic challenges, the decision to let go of workers not only exacerbates the existing hardships but also reveals a disturbing disregard for the welfare of the citizens.

He added that the context in which the layoff was proposed must be looked into, saying: “Nigeria has been facing significant economic distress, a situation exacerbated by various factors, including the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, fluctuating oil prices and ongoing security challenges.”