TheCable

Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of representatives, says the house is committed to passing the #NotTooYoungToRun bill in order to lower the age requirements for elective offices.

Dogara said this while addressing the plenary session of the Nigerian youth parliament in Abuja on Wednesday.  said it is the duty of elected representatives to make sure that the voices of their constituents were heard.

He said it is the duty of elected representatives to make sure that the voices of their constituents were heard.

The speaker said the bill, which seeks to alter sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the 1999 constitution, is aimed at reducing the age of eligibility for elective offices across board.

Dogara said if the amendment scales through, those between the ages of 30 to 40 will be eligible to contest presidential election, 30 to 35 years, the governorship, 25 to 30 years, senate and house of reps.

He, however, said that while the bill will not immediately correct the marginalisation of young persons in Nigeria, but will, however, open up opportunities hitherto unavailable to young persons in politics.

“It is also my strong view that creativity and innovation are critical elements in engendering economic growth and development,” he said.

“Indeed, the world is open for the youths to excel, especially in the area of technological development. Nigerian youths can compete strongly in the technological field in the new world economy. We only need better technological education, funding and exposure to best practices.

“At every opportunity, I have also used my office to promote the potentials of this country in order to attract investment into diverse sectors of the economy through legislative diplomacy promoted with leaders of various countries. We have therefore deliberately set up parliamentary friendship groups between Nigeria’s house of representatives and various countries to promote economic, legislative and political cooperation between our countries.”