National Assembly has stepped down
a bill seeking to change the
minimum requirement for
election into the offices of
President, Vice President,
National Assembly members, governors and other
political offices from first
school leaving certificate to
a university degree or its
equivalent.
The Nigeria’s House of Representatives action is sequel to the
adoption of a bill sponsored
by the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo
North Federal Constituency
of Ogun State, Adewunmi
Onanuga.
Recall that Section 131
(d) of the 1999 constitution
as amended provides that
a person shall be eligible
to contest the Office of the
President if such a person is
educated up to at least school
certificate level or its equivalent.
The bill titled ‘A Bill for an
Act to Alter the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as Amended)
to Change the Educational
Qualification for Elections
into Certain Political Offices and for Related Matters,’
enjoyed robust debate from
both sides as lawmakers
took turns to make their
contributions.
Leading the debate during
plenary session on Tuesday,
argued that the constitution
of Nigeria 1999 should be
amended to make it compulsory for elective office
holders to have a university
degree or its equivalent as
against the current provision which allows a First
School Leaving Certificate
holder to vie for the highest
office in the land.
Although, the bill enjoyed
support from House Leader,
Julius Ihonvbere, Babajimi
Benson, Kingsley Chinda
and a host of other lawmakers, Aliyu Madaki, a lawmaker from Kano State and
Ahmadu Jaha (APC, Borno)
and a legion of others kicked
against the proposed alteration.
A disappointed Onanuga
stepped down the bill, pledging to lobby more of her colleagues preparatory to having it presented on the floor
of the House at a later date.
“It appears some of our
colleagues need further lobbying. I will move to step
down the bill for now,” she
said.
Debating on the general
principles of the bill, Onanuga called on the House to
interrogate the educational
qualifications of political
office holders, noting it
had become necessary to
peg a university degree or
its equivalent as the basic
minimum educational requirement to vie for political
offices.
A supporter of the bill
and member representing
Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Babajimi
Benson, said, “Anyone who
is going to oppose this bill
should tell us if his son or
daughter is in the university or not. I can’t believe that
in this modern age, some
people will say don’t go to
school but yet go and be the
president.”
In his contribution, House
Leader, Julius Ihonvbare,
said, “We all know what
the world is today. A world
where knowledge is power,
we see leaders of other nations who make excellent
presentations but here, we
have leaders dodging debate.
“I don’t think this requirement should apply to
all political offices. For local
governments, it might not be
required but the president,
vice president, National Assembly members should be
required to own a degree.”
