The bill for the amendment of the constitution over the educational requirement of Nigerian Presidents and State Governors has passed second reading in the National House of Assembly.
The bill proposes a Higher National Diploma or its equivalent as the educational qualification a person must attain before seeking to contest for the office of the president or Governor.
The bill which passed the second reading on Thursday, the 12th of March 2020 was sponsored by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Isfifanus Gyang.
According to reports from The Punch, the Plateau state senator also purposes National Diploma or its equivalent as the minimum qualification for federal and state lawmakers.
The bill attempts to adjust the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the amendment of Sections 65 (2) (a), and 131 (d).
Furthermore, it will alter Section 106 (c) and Section 177 (d) on minimum education qualification for those seeking election into the Office of the President, State Assembly, Governor and National Assembly.
The bill seeks the alteration of section 65 (2) (a) of the Constitution which deals with the qualifications for intending members of the National Assembly
The current law reads, “A person shall be qualified for election under subsection (1) of this section if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”
Section 65 (2) (a) has now been amended to read “if he has been educated to at least a National Diploma level or its equivalent.”
Moreover, the bill seeks to alter Section 131 (d) which deals with minimum requirements for anyone contesting for the position of the State Governor.
That Section of the Constitution states that an aspirant must have “been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
Section 131 (d) has now been amended to read, “He has been educated up to at least HND level or’ it’s equivalent.”
Section 106 (c) of the Constitution for House of Assembly, the bill seeks the alteration of the existing law.
The existing law states that anyone seeking to be an Honourable member of the House of Assembly must have “been educated up to at least the School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
However, Section 106 (c) is now amended to read, “If he has been educated up to National diploma level or its equivalent.”
Also, the bill solicits the alteration of section 177 (d) of the Constitution for governors.
Currently, the Section states that the person must have “been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
However, Section 177 (d) has now been amended to read, “If he has been educated up to at least a Higher National Diploma Level or its equivalent.”
In any case, after the Senators passed the proposed amendment for second reading, the President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, assigned the bill to the Committee on Constitution Review.
