‘Not Too Young to Run’ wants age 20s’ in offices

Civil society groups mounted a public debate on Wednesday to canvass support for a bill that will liberalise voting age and allow independent candidates to get on ballots.

At least 12 organisations have signed onto the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign in support of the bill to end marginalisation against young people.

The Not Too Young To Run bill hopes to alter sections of the Constitution that specify minimum age for any office: it will reduce age qualification for the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; age for a governor or senator will fall from 35 to 30; and a federal or state lawmaker’s minimum age will fall from 30 to 25.

Young people account for nearly 60% of Nigeria’s population, but the “most popular duty of a young Nigerian is to vote while the older ones engage, advocate and of course contest and compete for political positions,” the groups said in a statement.

Beyond that, they are seen around offices as personal assistants to holders of political office.

“This marginalisation process has grown gradually, as it can be regarded as deadly as cancer which does not kill immediately, but moves like a slow poison,” said the groups.

Over 11 groups have signed into the project including the Youth Initiative Advocacy Growth & Advancement ( YIAGA), Connected Development (CODE), Youngstars Foundation, Orodata, and Mind Capital.