House Of Reps Making Progress On Bill To Increase Qualification For Presidency | READ DETAILS

A bill to raise the minimum education qualification for Nigeria’s President and other political offices, has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives without debate.

The bill sponsored by Adewunmi Onanuga (APC, Ogun), aims at modifying the 1999 Constitution by raising the qualification from a high school diploma to a bachelor’s degree or its equivalent.

The bill proposes to alter the 1999 Constitution’s Sections 65, 106, 131, and 171.

Onanuga, who led the debate on the bill, stated that a high school diploma is insufficient for running the country.

“It’s odd that a candidate must have a National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate to be considered for a position in Nigeria’s public service’s senior cadre” she said.

She wondered why the qualification for someone who wants to rule ‘a whole country’ will be required to present a minimum of a senior school certificate or its equivalent.