Lawmakers oppose bill to make higher education compulsory for presidential, governorship candidates

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives engaged in a spirited debate over a proposed bill aimed at elevating the academic requirements for those aspiring to the roles of president, governors, and National Assembly members to at least a bachelor’s degree level.

Introduced by Oriyomi Onanuga (APC, Ogun), the bill proposes modifications to sections 65, 106, 131, and 171 of the 1999 Constitution. Despite an extensive two-hour debate, the proposal encountered significant resistance by the lawmakers,  leading to Mrs. Onanuga’s decision to withdraw the bill for the time being.

Currently, the 1999 Constitution mandates a school certificate or its equivalent as the minimum academic qualification for elective offices in Nigeria, allowing for a broad interpretation of what constitutes equivalent educational experience.

Mrs. Onanuga, who previously sponsored a similar bill in 2022 without success, argued that updating the educational qualifications for electoral candidates to a university degree level is a necessary step towards aligning with the country’s present-day needs.

Supporting the bill, Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers) emphasized the importance of adapting the constitution to reflect contemporary realities, advocating for the recognition of education’s role in governance.

However, the bill faced opposition from the lawmakers who feared it could foster an elitist political landscape, limiting political participation to a select few. Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) highlighted that leadership qualities extend beyond academic achievements, expressing concern over the potential exclusionary impact of the bill.

Despite the support from some quarters, the collective opposition led to the bill’s deferment, as Mrs. Onanuga opted to withdraw the motion for further consultations, underlined by the decision of the Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu to step down the bill.