Nigeria’s Senate on Thursday approved Higher National Diploma, HND, and its equivalent as the minimum qualification for anyone aspiring for the president and state governors.
The lawmakers abolished school certificate as minimum qualification for the office of the presidency and state governors.
The bill to that effect had already scaled second reading at the Upper Chamber.
Senator Isfifanus Gyang from Plateau State sponsored the bill, which will shape landscape of the political system in the country.
The bill seeks to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to provide for the amendment of Sections 65 (2) (a), and 131 (d).
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.
The bill seeks the alteration of section 65 (2) (a) of the Constitution which deals with the qualifications for intending members of the National Assembly.
The bill sought to correct a portion of the constitution, which reads, “A person shall be qualified for election under subsection (1) of this section if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.”
Section 65 (2) (a) has now been rephrased to read “if he has been educated to at least a National Diploma level or its equivalent.”
The bill also sought the alteration of Section 131 (d) which deals with minimum requirements for anyone running for the office of the governor.
The current Section of the Constitution states that the person must have “been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
Section 131 (d) is now rephrased to read, “He has been educated up to at least HND level or’ its equivalent.”
For House of Assembly, the bill seeks the alteration of section 106 (c) of the Constitution.
According to the existing law, 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”.
But Section 106 (c) is now rephrased to read, “If he has been educated up to National diploma level or its equivalent.”
The bill seeks the alteration of section 177 (d) of the Constitution for governors.
As it is currently, the Section states that the person must have “been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
