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Youths participation in politics in Nigeria received a big boost Thursday as President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday signed the ” Not Too Young to Rule” bill into law, with an appeal that the youth should however wait until 2023 before they can contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The President who stated this at the Presidential Villa while signing the bill into law, also queried why the eligibility age for Governors and Senators was not reduced, urging the law makers to revisit the issues.
President Buhari opined that the coordinators of the “Not Too Young To Run” movement have now established a formidable legacy, ” which is that, in our maturing democracy, if you really want to change something in Nigeria, and if you can organise yourselves and work hard towards it – you can achieve it. The outcome of such efforts is this remarkable feat.”
He commended their efforts which resulted in the heroic task of enshrining in law, a reduction of the minimum ages for elective office in Nigeria.
According to the new law, the eligible age for aspirants for members of the State Houses of Assembly has been reduced from 30 to 25 year, while the age for aspirants for membership of the House of Representatives has been reduced from 30 to 25 years; and those for aspirants for Office of the President, is lowered from 40 to 35 years.
The President however observed that ” Surprisingly, the age limits for Senators and Governors was not reduced, as originally proposed by the sponsors of this Bill. This is an issue that may need to be addressed going forward”
The successful prosecution of the bill is now executed to increase the quality and maturity of Nigerian democracy and expanded the playing field for youth participation in politics.
Buhari described the youths as Nigeria’s most important resource, adding that “Your energy, intelligence and talent are what will drive and develop Nigeria, long after we are all gone”
” I am confident each one of you will transform Nigeria in your own way – whether through media, agricultural enterprise, economists, engineers, or as lawmakers in your States or at Federal levels, or as State Governors – and even someday, as President. Why not?
” But please, can l ask you to postpone your campaigns till after the 2019 elections”
Leader of the ” Not Too Young To Tun ” group, Samson Itodo in his speech, called for more of such amendments to the Constitution to allow more young people to play more active roles.
by signing this bill into law, we are saying that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria.
Itodo however berated states like Kano, Lagos and Zamfara which had declined their support for the bill.
He called for reduction in the cost of politics and commitment to internal democratic values in the political parties, to guarantee free and fair elections and give the youths more opportunities to participate in politics
Itodo also appealed for tickets to be reserved for young people at all level as well as commitments to non- violence at every levels to allow youths with content and character participate.
Others include limiting Charges imposed to secure tickets within the political parties to enable young people unfettered participation in politics.
23 females and 22 males represented the youths, including Abdulaziz Nyako, who sponsored the bill in the Senate and Tony Nwulu, a member of the House of Representatives.
Tony Nwulu in his speech said the bill was a demonstration of their commitment to the inclusion of Youths participation in politics
In his own remarks, Abdulaziz Nyako described the bill as a very important bill which received grassroots support from every part of Nigeria.
Speaking with BusinessDay after the event, Tony Nwulu , a member of the House of Representatives who had sponsored the bill, said the bill despite the signing is a ” work in progress” assuring that ” the President’s observation will cause a revisit of the bill”
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
