President Muhammadu Buhari has
signed the ‘Not Too Young To Run’ Bill into law. History was made on Thursday
when President Buhari assented to the bill at the Council Chambers of the
Presidential Villa in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
The president signed the bill on
Thursday inside the Council Chamber of State House Presidential Villa, in the
presence of selected invited youth from across the county.
Buhari on Tuesday assured
Nigerians that the ‘Not too Young to Run Bill’ will be signed into law in a few
days’ time.
However, in a brief remark after
he signed the bill, Mr Buhari told his audience comprising representatives of
young persons from the 36 states and Abuja that “You can aspire for President
but Please postpone your campaign till after 2019 election.”
Buhari disclosed in his
Democracy Day speech which aired on Tuesday at “In few days to come, I will be
joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign into law the “Not Too Young to
Run” Bill.”
The new law is aimed at relaxing
some of the stringent and discriminatory provisions of the constitution.
The bill was passed by the
National Assembly last year to alter Sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the
constitution. It was to reduce the age qualification for president from 40 to
30; governor from 35 to 30; senator from 35 to 30; House of Representatives
membership from 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly membership from 30 to 25.
The president, however, said in
the bill presented to him for assent, there was no reduction in the age
requirement for the office of senators and governors, indicating that age would
still be left at 35.
He said he hoped it will be
looked after eventually.
Lawmakers also approved
independent candidature in the new law. It was part of a wider constitutional
amendment process which the National Assembly carried out last year.
Since its passage in July 2017 by
the National Assembly, about 25 states, representing more than two-thirds of
the country’s 36 states, had adopted the bill as at March ending.
It was the outcome of relentless
efforts by a coalition of more than 40 youth-based initiatives across the
country.
Sharing videos from the event,
Bashir wrote: “History is made, President @MBuhari has signed into law the
#NotTooYoungToRun bill. Congratulations to all young men and women at @YIAGA
and all the supporters of the movement.”
— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) May 31, 2018
History is made, President @MBuhari has signed into law the #NotTooYoungToRun bill. Congratulations to all young men and women at @YIAGA and all the supporters of the movement. pic.twitter.com/YCbTTboqWd— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) May 31, 2018
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God bless President Buhari...forever..
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