Reps step down bill to change educational qualification for President, others

House of Representatives, on Tuesday, stepped down a bill seeking to change the minimum requirement for election into the Offices of President, Vice President, National Assembly members, Governors and other political offices from first school leaving certificate to a university degree or its equivalent.

This followed the decision of the sponsor of the bill, the member representing Ikenne/Sagamu/ Remo North Federal Constituency of Ogun State Hon, Adewunmi Onanuga to that effect.

Recall that Section 131 (d) of the 1999 Constitution as amended provides that a person shall be eligible to contest the Office of the President if such a person is educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent.

The bill titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to change the Educational Qualification for Elections into Certain Political Offices and for Related Matters”, enjoyed robust debate from two both sides as lawmakers took turns to make their contributions.

While deading the debate at the plenary Hon Onanuga, argued that the constitution of Nigeria 1999 should be amended to make it compulsory for elective office holders to have a University degree or its equivalent as against the current provision which allows a First School Leaving Certificate holder to vie for the highest office in the land.

Although, the bill enjoyed support from House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, Babajimi Benson, Kingsley Chinda, and a host of other lawmakers; Aliyu Madaki, a lawmaker from Kano State and Ahmadu Jaha (APC, Borno) and a legion of others kicked against the proposed alteration.

However, having noticed the mood of the House Hon Onanuga stepped down the bill, pledging to lobby more of her colleagues preparatory to having it presented on the floor of the House at a later date.

According to her “It appears some of our colleagues need further lobbying. I will move to step down the bill for now,”

Debating on the general principles of the bill, Onanuga called on the House to interrogate the educational qualifications of political office holders noting it had become necessary to peg a university degree or its equivalent as the basic minimum educational requirement to vie for political offices.

A supporter of the bill and member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Lagos State, Hon Babajimi Benson said, “Anyone who is going to oppose this bill should tell us if his son or daughter is in the university or not. I can’t believe that in this modern age, some people will say ‘don’t go to school but yet go and be the President.”

In his contribution, House leader Julius Ihonvbare said, “We all know what the world is today. A world where knowledge is power, we see leaders of other nations who make excellent presentations but here, we have leaders dodging debate.

“I don’t think this requirement should apply to all political offices. For local governments, it might not be required but the President , Vice President , National Assembly members should be required to own a degree.”

On his own Hon Leke Abejide who represents Yagba East/Yagba West/Mopamuro Federal Constituency, Kogi State, “The world has moved, Nigeria should not be left behind. If we put a mediocre candidate to head an important political office, we will end up in disaster.

Alfred Iliah (Jos South/Jos East Federal Constituency, Plateau State) described educational qualification as very important even as he called on the lawmakers to take the Bill seriously.

Mustapha Aliyu, a lawmaker from Sokoto State, described the proposed amendment as long overdue.

According to him, “Education is the bedrock of development in any society. Those contesting for executive seats should have a degree, however, the jump from leaving school to degree is too wide. I will propose that there should be a middle course”.

On his part, House Minority Leader, who also spoke in favour of the bill said, “A school certificate holder in 1966 cannot be compared to the school certificate holders of today. Should we continue in this direction today? If you apply for a job with a school certificate today, what kind of job will.you be given? We must encourage our children to go to school.”

The member representing Dala Federal Constituency, Kano State, Aliyu Madaki said the leadership quality of a political office holder is not determined by one’s level of education.

“Your level of education is never a determinant of what you will do when you are put in a position of leadership. Let us allow everybody to contest and allow that section of the Constitution the way it is.

In his contribution, Usman Bashir, a Peoples Democratic Party member from Sokoto State said, “We were privileged to go to university, but we have less privileged Nigerians who couldn’t afford to go to the university. I propose that we allow the minimum requirement for political office holders to retain the school certificate.

For the member representing Damboa/Gwoza/Chibok Federal Constituency, Borno State, Ahmed Jaha,
“Qualification alone is not a true taste of knowledge. We are making laws for good governance and peace in this country. We will not make laws that will favour only a few numbers of Nigerians.

“How many Nigerians are degree holders? America that we refer to has done greatly in educating her citizens but here in Nigeria, what have we done in improving our education system?” He asked.

Inuwa Garba (Yamaltu/ Deba Constituency, Gombe State did not mince words when he said, “The mover of this bill is not aware of what is happening in some part of this country. Some schools in some parts of the country have been shut down for a while now. Certificate is not a true test of knowledge. The bill is discriminatory against some people.”

Seeing the direction of the debate, Hon Onanuga moved to step down the bill with a pledge to lobby her colleagues currently opposed to the proposed legislation.