#NotTooYoungToRun Commends Nigerian Senate for Passage of Age Reduction Bill

The Not Too Young To Run movement commends the Nigerian Senate for the passage of the historic age reduction bill seeking to reduce the age for running for the office of the President 40 to 35; Governor 35 to 30; House of Representatives 30 to 25; and State of house of assembly 30 to 25. This is indeed a positive development in our great country’ democratic progress.  We commend the 86 senators who voted in support of the bill and call on the House of Representatives to emulate the Senate and pass the bill upon consideration tomorrow, Thursday July 27, 2017. The movement especially acknowledges the role of the leadership of the Senate in ensuring the passage of the bill; specifically, the Senate President, Distinguished Senator, Bukola Saraki and the Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu for their commitment to inclusive democracy and youth development. We as a country must continue to align our interest with democratic principles, global values and acknowledge that democratic accountability is now a norm and no longer an exception.

The Not Too Young To Run is about inclusion and represents the interest of over 100 million Nigerian Youth. As we look on to the House of Representatives to Redeem their Promise made to Nigerian Youth tomorrow. We are utilizing this opportunity to announce the launch of the Hall of Fame and Hall of Shame for Legislators who voted in Support of the Bill or against the bill respectively. We respectively request the National Assembly to publish the voting records on the constitutional amendment.

We call on Nigerian Youth, friends and well-wishers not to rest on their oars, the journey is just beginning. As we await the House of Representatives and its Leadership redeeming their promise of passing the Not Too Young to Run Bill, let us earnestly begin our mobilization for the passage of the bill not less than 30 states of the federation.  As we all continue to say amongst ourselves, this bill is one unifying factor at a time when the country is experiencing a lot of upheavals.

How it will Pass

Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution as amended clearly outlines the procedure for amending the constitution. By virtue of that section, any proposed amendment to the constitution must be supported by two-thirds majority of all the members in the Senate and House of Representatives. Also, any amendment passed by the Senate and House must be approved by a resolution of not less than two-thirds of all the states. For the Not Too Young To Run amendment to pass, it will require an affirmative vote of a minimum of seventy-two (72) Senators and two hundred and forty (240) honorable members. It will also require an affirmative vote of 24 state assemblies.   

We thank the media, civil society, international community for the solidary and support.

The journey has just began.

One Shared Value, One Shared Goal, #NOTTOOYOUNGTORUN

Our Shared Value, Our Shared Goal, #NOTTOOYOUNGTORUN

Signed

1. Activista
2. Abuja Global Shapers
3. African Youth Initiative on Population, Health & Development (AfrYPoD)
4. Connected Development [CODE]
5. The Election Network
6. League of Progressive Ambassadors of Nigeria (LEPAN)
7. MindCapital
8. The Nigerian Youth Parliament
9. Orodata,
10. Project Pink Blue
11. Social Good Nigeria
12. TechHer NG
13. The YALI Network
14. Youngstars Foundation
15. Youth Hub Africa
16. Youth Initiative Advocacy Growth & Advancement (YIAGA)
17. Amplified Radio
18. Media Insight
19. Say No Campaign
20. Vision Alive Foundation, Abia
21. Youth Initiative for Better Change, Adamawa
22. Young Activists Initiative Nigeria, Akwa Ibom
23. Integrity Youth Development Initiative, Anambra
24. Centre for Environment, Human Rights and Development, Bayelsa
25. The Bridge Youth Development Foundation, Benue
26. Exit Lanes, Borno
27. After School Centre for Career Development, Cross River
28. DIG Foundation, Ebonyi
29. Connected Advocacy, Edo
30. Inspiration Care Centre, Ekiti
31. New Century Initiative, Enugu
32. Dandalin Matasa Initiative for Rapid Development, Gombe
33. Development Dynamics, Imo
34. Centre for Environmental Research and Development, Jigawa
35. One Project Afrika. Kaduna
36. Centre for Advocacy in Gender and Social Inclusion, Kano
37. Youth Entrepreneurship Support Hub, Katsina
38. Youth Consensus Forum, Kebbi
39. Youth Emancipation for the Society (ProjectYES), Kogi
40. Brain Builders International, Kwara
41. Grassroots Mobilization Initiative, Nasarawa
42. Nigerian Young Professionals Forum, Niger
43. Youth Future Savers Initiatives, Ogun
44. Youth Aglow Initiative, Ondo
45. Kimpact Development Initiative, Osun
46. Young Care Initiative, Oyo
47. Centre for Youth Participation Advocacy, Plateau
48. Golden Star Development Initiative, Sokoto
49. Rural Integrated Development Initiative, Taraba
50. North East Youth Initiative Forum, Yobe
51. Golden Stars Development Initiative, Zamfara
52. Modaville Centre for Development, Lagos
53. National Organization for Citizens Orientation (NOCO), Rivers State.
54. Nigerian Youth Action (NYA), Rivers State, Nigeria

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