The Nigerian senate has voted to reduce the lower age limit to run for elective positions from 40 to 35.
This was disclosed after an electronic vote in the senate showed that 86 senators were in support, while 10 were against and one of the lawmakers abstained.
A tweet from the Senate’s official account further confirmed the vote:
#ConstitutionReview
Bill 27: Reduction of Age for ElectionYes: 86
No: 10
Abstain: 1#PromiseKept ?????#NotTooYoungToRun passed— The Nigerian Senate (@NGRSenate) July 26, 2017
This bill goes on to stipulate that 25-year-olds can now legislate in the national and state assemblies across the country.
Despite the results of the vote, the bill cannot become law until it passes the endorsement of 24 state assemblies and presidential assent.
Below are the 33 bills they considered and how they voted:
| BILL | YES | NO | REMARK |
|---|---|---|---|
| Members of the Council of States | 95 | NIL | Passed |
| Devolution of Power | 90 | 5 | Passed |
| Financial Autonomy of State Legislature | 90 | 5 | Passed |
| Distributable account for LG’s to have their own special account | 84 | 8 | Passed |
| Democratic Existence funding and tenure of LG council | 88 | 7 | Passed |
| State creation and boundary adjustment | 47 | 48 | Not Passed |
| Immunity for legislators for Acts in Course of Duty | 93 | 1 | Passed |
| Political Parties and Electoral Matters : Time to conduct Bye Elections and Power to deregister parties | 90 | 0 | Passed |
| Presidential Assent | 95 | 1 | Passed |
| Time frame for submission of names of ministerial nominees | 75 | 19 | Passed |
| Submission of Ministerial Nominees with their Portfolios | 78 | 16 | Passed |
| 35% affirmative action for women as ministers | 49 | 43 | Not Passed |
| Submission of Commissioners Nominees with their Portfolios | 84 | 7 | Passed |
| Submission of names of office of commissioners shall be attached with portfolio | 87 | 8 | Passed |
| 35% Affirmative action for women as States Commissioners | 61 | 35 | Passed |
| Authorization of expenditure | 93 | 1 | Passed |
| Appointment of Minister from the FCT | 77 | 12 | Passed |
| Change of names of some LG councils: Ebonyi, Oyo, Ogun, Pleateau and Rivers | 84 | 2 | Passed |
| Independent Candidacy | 82 | 5 | Passed |
| The Nigeria Police Force to become Nigerian Police | 87 | 2 | Passed |
| Restriction of the tenure of President and Governor | 88 | 0 | Passed |
| Separation of Office of the Accountant-General | 89 | 0 | Passed |
| Office of Auditor General to be included in first line chat of consolidated revenue | 95 | 0 | Passed |
| Separation of Office of the Attorney General from the Minister/Commissioner of Justice | 95 | 1 | Passed |
| Submissions from the Judiciary | 95 | 2 | Passed |
| Determination of pre-election matters | 97 | 0 | Passed |
| Consequential Amendment on Civil Defence | 97 | 0 | Passed |
| Citizenship and indigenship | 49 | 46 | Passed |
| Procedure for Overriding Presidential Veto in Constitutional Alteration | 87 | 4 | Passed |
| Removal of law making power from Executive Arm | 89 | 3 | Passed |
| Investment and Securities Tribunal | 76 | 14 | Passed |
| Reduction of Age for Election | 86 | 10 | Passed |
| Authorization of expenditure time frame for laying Appropriation bill, Passage etc | 94 | 0 | Passed |
| Deletion of NYSC decree from CFRN | 88 | 33 | Passed |
| Deletion of Public Complain Act from CFRN | 90 | 1 | Passed |
| Deletion of National Security Agencies from the CFRN | 92 | 2 | Passed |
| Deletion of land Use Act from CFRN | 46 | 44 | Passed |
| Deletion of State INEC from CFRN | 73 | 19 | Passed |
