The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed into second reading a bill seeking to raise the educational qualification of President and Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governor and members of the National and State Houses of Assemblies in Nigeria
The new bill is entitled ‘A Bill for an Act to Review the Qualifications for Certain Political Offices and For Related Matters’
Debating on the general principles of the bill, the sponsor Hon. Omowumi Onanuga (Ogun, APC) said that the new legislation is not targeted at stifling the interest of Nigerians in politics.
She noted that the race for political offices in Nigeria have become very fierce and intense due largely to the low qualifications for such offices.
She said: “The bill if passed will place more value for political offices.
“All the offices affected by this Act are very strategic and influential in nature”
According to the lawmaker, if a managing director of a company is required to possess a university degree the occupant of a political office is also required to possess the requisite qualifications.
She argued that the proposed legislation if passed will place more value for the offices of President, Vice President, Governor and Deputy Governors and other political offices in the country.
Consequently, the House presided by the Deputy Speaker Hon. Idris Wase unanimously adopted the motion through a voice vote.
