Alhaji Salihu Maidaji, Speaker, Sokoto State House of Assembly, said on Thursday that the house would lend its support towards the speedy passage of the “Not too Young to Run” bill of the National Assembly.
News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Maidaji gave the assurance when he received members of ”Not too Young to Run” Campaign group at the State House of Assembly.
He said that when the bill is passed, about 60 per cent of the Nigerian population would be eligible to contest various elective positions in the country.
“It will bring about a healthy competition between various age groups, thereby giving the electorate, a wider range of choices for better candidates to emerge and move the country forward.
“This will also reduce youth restiveness as they will now fight for themselves as candidates, rather than being sponsored to cause political violence to protect the interest of other politicians who do not mean well for the country.
“Moreover, it provides an opportunity for the youths to harness and develop their potentialities in politics,” he said.
Maidaji called on all other state Assemblies in the country, to support the bill to widen the horizon of democracy in the country.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Coordinator of the group, Mr. Yakubu Abubakar, said the visit was to show their support for bill that would involvement of youth in the political process.
He thanked the lawmakers for hosting the group and commended them for ensuring passage of bills aimed at improving the living standard of youth in the state. (NAN)