The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has called for the constitution to be amended to increase the educational qualification for election into the office of the president.
Gbajabiamila also wants the minimum requirement for other elective offices including the legislature to be raised.
Section 131 (d) of the 1999 constitution states that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent”.
The speaker, who spoke at the University of Lagos’ convocation on Monday, noted that raising the minimum academic requirement for the office of the president will help to reform the electoral system.
“I also sincerely believe that the national assembly needs to look into section 131 (d) of the 1999 constitution with a view to increasing the minimum educational qualification for persons aspiring to be future presidents of Nigeria and other top offices including the national assembly as against the current minimum requirement of a secondary school certificate or its equivalent,” Gbajabiamila said.
“As we have reduced the age for eligibility to contest those offices, so also, we should increase the minimum educational requirement. It will be another step in reforming our electoral system and providing strong leadership for the country.”
However, for that section of the constitution to be amended, it must be supported by 24 states houses of assembly.
