Jubilation as Nigerian legislators promise to pass ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill before Christmas

A Citizens Town Hall meeting focused on the Not Too Young To Run bill has given an insight into the thoughts of state legislators concerning the bill

The town hall meeting was convened by promoters of the bill to provide a platform for interface between high-level policy makers and citizens on the ongoing constitution review process

Participants on both sides of the divide were united in their support for the Not Too Young To Run bill

The needed approval of two-thirds majority of the 36 Houses of Assembly of the federation for the Not Too Young To Run bill to become a law in Nigeria seems to have gotten the nod of Nigerian legislators at the state level.

This is due to the assurance by the Speaker of the Kwara state House of Assembly, Honourable Ali Ahmad, that the bill will be passed by the various state Houses of Assembly before Christmas day this year.

Ahmad made the statement on Monday, December 11 at an event tagged Citizens Town Hall on Constitution Review in Abuja.

He stated that the campaign for young people to take over leadership positions is a global affair and not just a Nigerian issue.

His words: “This campaign is no longer a Nigerian movement but a global one. Nigerians should expect the Not Too Young To Run bill to be passed before year end.

“When you see a flicker of hope coming from anybody you will try and do whatever that you can to support that movement, that is why am here today to support Nigerian youths on Not Too Young To Run.

“Some people will say the younger ones are not experienced enough to hold elective position, leave that to the voters to decide.

“If somebody is publicly spirited, if he has that spirit to serve his people, age should not be disqualification.”

On his part, the Speaker of the Benue state House of Assembly, Honourable Terkimbi Ikyange, assured Nigerian youths that “the stage is set to look into the campaign.”

His words: “I am a beneficiary of that gesture, so to speak, because I am a youth and I have enjoyed the support of youths to be in my position today.

“So I want to encourage the youths and give them assurances that this will go through.”

Also speaking, the Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Hillary Bisong, challenged the Nigerian older politicians to change their mentality from entitlement and inheritance to investment.

“There is no ‘Too Old To Run’ bill, they know the youth are well educated and that is why they are using age as a barrier. Experience and quality matter a lot too,” he said.

For Samson Itodo, Executive Director of the Youth Initiative for Advocacy, Growth & Advancement (YIAGA) and convener of the town hall meeting, he said the bill seeks to promote inclusion by reducing the age for running for political offices in Nigeria.

His words: “We cannot say a country will develop without including the youth in the political affairs. It is important to engage youth in the political business of the country.

“So we call on state Houses of Assembly to vote yes to ‘Not Too Young To Run’ that will give young people the opportunity to contribute to national development.”

He called on political parties to uphold the principles of democracy, transparency and accountability by ensuring that young people are given opportunities to buy party nomination forms.

The ‘Not Too Young To Run’ bill needs endorsement by 24 state Houses of Assembly before it goes to the president for his assent to become law.

The House of Representatives passed the bill on Thursday, July 27, a day after it was passed by the Senate. The bill seeks to reduce the minimum age for elective offices in Nigeria.

If passed and signed into law, an individual can contest for the office of president at the age of 35 and governor and the Senate at the age of 30.

Meanwhile, a young Nigerian based in the United States of America, Omololu Omotosho, has declared his ambition to become Nigeria’s president.

In a message sent, Omotosho said he is not too young to run the affairs of the country successfully, adding that he would foster an environment where democratic values and the rule of law are upheld.

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