The development came as the House also introduced 100 bills for first reading on Wednesday at the session, which was presided over by the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara.
In December last year, the 8th House also introduced 130 bills for first reading in one day.
The age reduction bill is a constitution amendment bill, which specifically seeks to amend sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
The sections deal with age qualification for the Senate/House of Representatives; state House of Assembly; President; and Governor respectively.
Under the extant Section 65, the age requirement to contest an election to the Senate is 35 years while for the House of Representatives is 30 years.
In the extant Section 106, the age requirement to contest a state House of Assembly seat is 30 years.
For the office of the President, the extant provision in Section 131 is 40 years.
For the office of the governor of a state, the qualification in the extant Section 177 is 35 years.
But, on Wednesday, the House sought to reduce the age qualification for the office of the President to 30 years.
The same age (30 years) was recommended for the office of a governor and for election to the Senate.
For the House of Representatives and a state House of Assembly, the lawmakers sought to reduce the age qualification to 25 years.
The bill, which was sponsored by Mr. Tony Nwulu, had the long title, ‘A Bill for an Act to Alter Sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to reduce the Age Qualification for the Office of the President and Governor and Membership of the Senate and House of Representatives and for Other Related Matters.’
Leading the debate, Nwulu said the global trend was that young people were holding key elective offices, with the United Kingdom reducing the “age of candidacy” in 2006 from 21 years to 18 years.
He stated, “Many countries across the globe have called for a reduction in the age of candidacy.
“This demonstrates a growing international desire and demand among youths to participate in the democratic process as candidates.
“This desire itself could be viewed as a sufficient warrant for young people to participate and demonstrates a willingness to engage and fulfil the burden of office.”
For instance, he said in Venezuela, the age requirement to be president was 30 years, while to be a governor, the provision was 25 years.
“In the Netherlands, any adult, 18 years and above, can become a candidate and be elected in all the elective positions. Same is also in Norway,” Nwulu stated.
In the case of Mexico, he said the age requirement for the office of President was “at least” 35 years.
He added, “In France, the minimum age to be elected President, Senator and Lower House of Parliament is 18 years.
“Also in Germany, any citizen of 18 years of age or older can be elected in all national or regional elections. And in Denmark, any adult of 18 years of age or older can become a candidate and be elected in any public election.”
Similarly, Nwulu made a case for independent candidacy to open up the democratic space by allowing as many people as possible to contest elections without being necessarily affiliated to a political party.
Some lawmakers, including the Chairman, House Committee on Interior, Mr. Adams Jagaba, tried to oppose the bill but Dogara disallowed them.
The Speaker did not take any further contributions after Nwulu rounded off his points.
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