The Senate, on Thursday, passed for second reading, a constitution amendment bill which prescribes Higher National Diploma or its equivalent as the educational qualification required for anyone seeking to contest for the office of the President or state governors.
The bill was sponsored by a member of the Peoples Democratic Party from Plateau State, Senator Isfifanus Gyang.
Section 177 (d) is now rephrased to read, “If he has been educated up to at least Higher National Diploma Level or its equivalent.”
The existing law says anyone aspiring to be a member of the House of Assembly must have “been educated up to at least the School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
The bill prescribes National Diploma or its equivalent as the minimum qualification for federal and state lawmakers.
The bill seeks the alteration of Section 131 (d) which deals with minimum requirements for anyone running for the office of the governor.
It will also amend Section 106 (c) and Section 177 (d) on minimum education qualification for those seeking election into the State Assembly, Governor, National Assembly and office of the President.
For House of Assembly, the bill seeks the alteration of section 106 (c) of the Constitution.
As it is currently, the Section states that the person must have “been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, referred the bill to the Committee on Constitution Review after passing the proposed amendment for second reading.
