Speakers of state Houses of Assembly have assured Nigerians of speedy passage of the “Not Too Young To Run” bill, which seeks to reduce the age limit of running for elective offices in Nigeria. The assurance was given by speakers of six Assemblies at a townhall meeting in Abuja. The bill was passed by the national assembly in July, allowing 35 year olds to run for the presidency.
Besides age reduction, the bill also guarantees independent candidacy and seeks to encourage youth political participation by reducing the age requirement for elective offices across the country.
With the endorsement by the two chambers of the National Assembly, it is expected that state houses of assembly will follow suit before it can be passed into law.
This town hall meeting is to engage speaker of state houses of assembly in order to garner their support for the bill and ensure that it sees the light of the day
The speakers confidently tell the gathering of young Nigerians that they are working round the clock to ensure that all the other legislative houses adopt and pass the bill.
If passed into law, the bill would reduce the minimum age for Presidential Candidate from 40 to 35 as well as gubernatorial candidate from 35 to 30 while Nigerians from 25 years of age and above can be elected into house of
representatives and state houses of Assembly.
