House of Representatives has taken a step toward lowering the age limit for top political offices, as a bill seeking to amend 1999 Constitution scaled its second reading on Tuesday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the proposal aims to bring down the minimum age for governorship and senate contests from 35 to 30.
The legislation, officially known as A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Reduce the Age for Qualification for Membership of the Senate and Office of the Governor and for Related Matters (HB. 2235), was introduced by Esin Etim alongside 24 co-sponsors.
Under the current constitutional provision, Nigerians can run for the House of Representatives from age 25, but must wait until 35 before vying for Governor or a senate seat.
Etim, who represents Offong/Oruko/Udung Uko federal constituency in Akwa Ibom, argued that this arrangement slows down the political growth of young leaders.
He noted that the 10-year difference between eligibility for the House and the upper offices creates a barrier for young politicians who start their careers early.
According to him, a representative who enters the House at 25 and serves two full terms would be 33 and still unable to contest a governorship or senate election.
Etim explained that the bill intends to adjust the threshold to 30 while keeping a five-year gap between the House and the higher positions.
He said, “If a member of this house at 25 years spends two terms in the house of representatives, he will be 33 years and he will still not be qualified to go to the senate or to become a Governor.”
“So, I think that this honourable house should look into it and we maintain the gap between the office of the governor and senate, as it were, and that of the house at the five years that it has always been.”
When Speaker Tajudeen Abbas presented the bill for a voice vote, the majority supported allowing it to move to the next stage. He then forwarded it to the constitution review committee for further work.
