A bill seeking amendment to the educational qualifications for the position of president or governor has passed the second reading at the Nigerian Senate.
The lawmaker ratified the amendment during plenary presided over by Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, on Thursday.
Sponsored by Senator Isfifanus Gyang, the bill seeks to amend section 131 (d) of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution which allows anyone educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent to aspire for the top job.
The above section has now been rephrased to allow anyone “educated up to at least Higher National Diploma (HND) level or its equivalent,” to contest election for the office.
Same HND qualification was proscribed as minimum requirement for anyone seeking the office of a state governor under section 177 (d).
The bill also prescribes National Diploma (ND) or its equivalent as the minimum qualification for federal and state lawmakers in sections 65(2)(a) and 106(c).
