30 years old will soon be qualify to run for president- Dogara

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara has made it known that, the house is working toward passing the #NotTooYoungToRun# bill for the purpose of bringing down the age requirement of candidates that want to run for electives offices, just to allow youths to contest for leadership post in the country.

While speaking with the plenary session of the
Nigerian Youth Parliament in Abuja yesterday, 17 May, Dogara said that as elected
representatives, it is their responsibility to ensure
that their constituents voices are heard
especially in a country with a youth
population of over 60%.

Further saying that, the bill seeks to alter
sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999
Constitution aimed at reducing the age of
eligibility for elective offices across board,
and to introduce independent candidacy to
our electoral process.

Moreover, according to the Speaker, if the
amendment works, the minimum
age of eligibility for the elective offices will
be modified having:
- Presidency from 40 to
30 years.
-Governor, 35 to 30 years
-Senate, 35 to 30 years, House of Representatives
-State House of Assembly, 30 to 25 years.

Dogara furthered saying that, while the Bill will
not immediately correct the marginalization
of young persons in Nigeria, it will however
open up opportunities for
young persons to enter politics as the major problem affecting Nigeria's youth is unemployment.