#NotTooYoungToRun Bill Campaign Hits Enugu State

Over the last decade the campaign to reduce the age qualification for running for elective offices has intensified due to the negative impact of the unfriendly legal environment created by our Constitution. Today, young people are alienated from the political process due to several socio-economic, cultural, political and economic factors. One of the major barriers of increased youth participation in electoral politics is the age threshold of running for office. In 2009 an attempt was made to amend the constitutional provisions for contesting for the office of President, Governors, Senators, House of Representatives, State House of Assembly and Local government officials. We failed in our quest to get the National Assembly to consider the proposed amendment. In 2012, another attempt was made by several youth organisations under the auspices of the Youth Alliance on Constitution Review to get the National Assembly to amend the Constitution. We made some progress as the issue was included in the proposal template that was used by the House of Representatives for the public sessions conducted in the 360 Federal constituencies across Nigeria. This was a marginal victory compared to the 2009 constitution review experience. There were other amendments proposed by young people that were passed by the National Assembly event. e.g independent candidacy, justiciability of some socio-economic right like education, environment and health. As we may be aware the 4th alteration fell like a pack of cards as former President Goodluck Jonathan declined assent for legitimate reasons. 

We are here in 2016 and the National Assembly has commenced another process of constitution review. Again, we are presented with an opportunity to push for far reaching reforms geared towards opening up the political space for young people to participate. Unlike the 2009 and 2012 review process, the advocacy for reviewing the age criteria for running for office appears to have gained some level of traction with policy making circles. The Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives have expressed their commitment to support any constitutional amendment process aimed at reducing the age qualification. Few weeks ago the Hon. Speaker emphatically made the point that amending the constitution will not be handed down to us without a struggle. This is a call to duty colleagues.

~Samson Itodo

  

In line with our support to #NotTooYoungToRun Bill, New Century Initiative is leading the campaign in Enugu state, Nigeria.