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Reps deny dropping #NotTooYoungToRun Bill

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Reps deny dropping #NotTooYoungToRun Bill

The House of Representatives has said that it has not dropped the Not Too Young To Run Bill, which seeks to lower the age limit for elective offices.

There had been reports that the joint committee of the National Assembly on the review of the 1999 Constitution, may have thrown aside the clamour for a representation of younger Nigerians in positions of authority.

It was said that the proposed amendment to reduce the constitutionally stipulated ages for electoral offices had been excluded from their final report.

A source revealed that a sub-committee of the chamber had actually opposed the bill, making it difficult to advance the agenda at the joint committee of the National Assembly.

But Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara on Thursday said that the promise he made on the NotTooYoungToRun Bill will be kept and that he would not let the young ones down.

Dogara who spoke when the House received the report of the Ad-hoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), said that contrary to the reports, the Bill was not dropped, but rather, that its title was changed.

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“Young people should be informed that we’ve made a promise & we’ll keep to our promise by the grace of God. My support for youth inclusion in politics and governance remains unwavering”, Dogara stated.

Also contributing on the issue, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Yussuf Lasun said that “The #NotTooYoungToRun bill has been considered and title already changed as part of report”.

He raised a point of order, saying that contrary to reports, the Bill was considered and included in the report, but under a different name.

The Deputy Speaker, who heads the committee, also offered clarification on the status of the Bill, and revealed that the report will be considered next week, and full details will be provided.

Specifically, the bill seeks to reduce the age criteria for the offices of the President, Governor, Senate, House of Representatives, and State House of Assembly.

If it scales through, age criteria for the office of the President will be 30 years as against the current age of 40, that of the Governor will be 30 as against the current age of 35, Senatorial office will also be 30 as against the current age of 35, while House of Representatives and State House of Assembly offices will each be 25 years each as against the current age of 30.

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