The Age Reduction Bill popularly known as Not Too Young To Run bill is a constitutional amendment movement led by young Nigerians. The bill was conceived and pushed by several civil society groups including YIAGA Africa, beginning in May 2016. The group is headed by Samson Itodo, a human right activist and good governance campaigner who is the Executive Director of YIAGA Africa. The bill was sponsored in House of Representatives by Tony Nwulu and in the Senate by AbdulAziz Nyako. The bill seeks alteration in sections 65, 106, 131, 177 of the Constitution of Nigeria, which is reduce the age of running for elective positions for House of Assembly and House of Representatives from 30 year old to 25 year old, Senate and Governorship from 35 year old to 30 year old and office of the president from 40 to 30 and independent candidature in Nigeria.
Advocacies
On April 20, 2018, the promoters of the bill met with Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to advocate for the Presidency to assent to the bill. After approval, the movement sought the All Progressives Congress for reduction in the nomination form fee, as it was N55 million before it was reduced to N45 million. But the movement want the fee to be reduced to encourage involvement of youths in politics. Earlier about six political party had pledged incentives for the Not-Too-Young-To-Run movement to encourage participation of young Nigerians in politics.
Passage of Not Too Young To Run bill at Nigeria Parliaments
The bill was first read at Nigeria's House of Representatives and was passed with votes of in the Senate on July 26, 2017 and 261-23 in the House of Representatives on July 27, 2017. The bill passed first and second reading in Nigeria's Parliament and was presented to Committee on Constitutional Review. For any constitutional amendments to become a law in Nigeria, the amendments needed to be presented to all the House of Assemblies of 36 states of the federation and not less than 24 states are expected to vote Yes to the amendments. It was reported by 33 house of assemblies in Nigeria voted Yes, except Zamfara, Lagos and Kano. The bill was rejected by Taraba State Assembly initially, but, was reversed after the group made a press release inaugurating the Taraba House of Assembly into the Hall of Shame. On February 16, 2018, the conveners gave the Nigeria Parliaments and their president 30days ultimatum to conclude the processes of passage and signing of the bill into law.
Assent to Not Too Young To Run bill by Nigeria's President
In April, 2018, the Nigeria's Senate resolved to transmit the Not Too Young To Run bill to the President of Nigeria. On May 21, 2018, 55 youth-led organizations gave President Buhari an 8-day ultimatum to assent to the bill. On 29 May 2018, Nigeria's President Buhari announced in his 'democracy day' national address that he planned to sign the bill into law. He subsequently signed the bill on the 31st of May 2018. On May 31, 2018, Muhammadu Buhari signed the Not Too Young To Run bill into law.
Political controversy
There was a controversy that the Not Too Young To Run bill was removed from the constitutional review report during the Nigeria's constitutional review meeting.
