President of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan has referred to the Constitution Review Committee a bill seeking to raise educational qualifications for election as president, governor, and national and state legislator.
This was after the constitution amendment bill sponsored by Senator Istifanus Gyang (PDP – Plateau North) passed Second Reading on Thursday.
The bill seeks to amend Sections 65 (2) (a), 131 (d), 106 (c) and 177 (d) of the 1999 Constitution on minimum educational qualification into the office of president, and governor, as well as member of the National Assembly and State Assembly.
While the constitution currently requires candidates for the office of president and governor to possess “school certificate or its equivalent”, the bill seeks to raise the minimum qualification to “Higher National Diploma (HND) or its equivalent”.
While candidates seeking election into the National or state assemblies are currently required to have minimum educational qualification of “school certificate or its equivalent”, the bill seeks to raise it to “National Diploma (ND) or its equivalent”.
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The Herald can report that a similar bill is presently before the House of Representatives.
The bill sponsored by the member representing Makurdi/Guma Federal Constituency, Benjamin Mzondu, scaled First Reading on the floor of the House on Thursday, March 5.