House of Reps

The House of Representatives has advanced a bill that seeks to disqualify individuals older than 60 from contesting for the offices of president and governor in Nigeria. Sponsored by Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, a lawmaker from Imo State, the bill successfully passed its second reading.

The proposed amendment to Section 131 of the Constitution introduces a new qualification, stating that candidates for the presidency must not exceed 60 years at the time of election and must possess at least a university degree. Similarly, Section 177 would be amended to enforce the same age limit and educational criteria for governorship candidates.

Apart from this bill, the House also deliberated on several other legislative proposals. Among them was a bill seeking statutory backing for the upgrade of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education to a full-fledged university in Imo State. This initiative, jointly sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abass and Ugochinyere, aims to elevate the institution’s academic standing.

Additionally, the House considered a bill for the creation of an additional local government area—Ideato West—in Imo State, aiming to improve governance and development in the region.

In a move to promote inclusivity in governance, lawmakers debated a bill mandating the inclusion of youths and persons with disabilities in political appointments. The House also considered a proposal to transfer trade and commerce to the concurrent legislative list, granting both federal and state governments authority over economic activities to boost interstate commerce.

Furthermore, another bill aimed at reviewing qualification requirements for candidates vying for the offices of President, Vice President, Governor, and Deputy Governor was also discussed, with a focus on streamlining leadership selection for improved governance.

The bills passed their second readings and will proceed to the committee stage for further legislative scrutiny.