Reps step down Bill to change educational qualification of President, NASS Principal Officers, Others

By Christiana Ekpa

The House of Representatives on Tuesday stepped down a bill seeking to change the minimum requirement for the office of President, Vice, National Assembly members and other political office from first school leaving certificate to degree or its equivalent.
The House decision followed the passage of a bill moved by Rep Adewunmi Onanuga during the plenary on Abuja.
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.
Debating on the general principles of the bill, Onanuga called on the House to look critically into the educational qualification of political office holders stating that Nigeria has moved past a school leaving certificate as the minimum requirement to contest political office, adding that degree or its equivalent should be made minimum requirement.
Speaking in favour of the bill, Babajimi Benson from (Lagos State) said “Anyone who is going to oppose this bill should tell 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.
Professor Julius Ihonvbare said “We all know what the world is today. In 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 government it might not be required but for President and Vice, National Assembly members should be required to own a degree.
Leke Abejide from (Kogi )said “The world has moved, Nigeria should not be left behind, We put a mediocre to head an important political office we will end up in disaster.
Alfred Iliah from (Jos ) said educational qualification is very important and the bedrock of every society. According to him, the qualification of every National Assembly member should be looked into if the country must make progress.
Mustapha Aliyu from (Sokoto ) This amendment is long overdue. Education is the bedrock of the development of any society. Those contesting for the executive seats should have a degree, however, the jump from leaving school to a degree is too wide, I will propose that there should be a middle course.
Shetimma Lawal from (Borno) said “Requirement for Governance should cut across all levels from the highest to the lowest. For politicians we are only providing leadership, political offices should be categorized.