BILLS
BILL TO LOWER AGE REQUIREMENT FOR SENATE AND GOVERNORSHIP TO 30 SCALES SECOND READING, CHAMPIONED BY REP. MARTINS ESIN
DECEMBER. 2ND, 2025
The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed for Second Reading a Bill seeking to amend the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to lower the minimum age for election into the Senate and the office of state governor from 35 to 30 years.
The proposed amendment, sponsored by 25 lawmakers led by Rep. Martins Esin, Chairman of the House Committee on Youth Development, aims to further expand political inclusion for young Nigerians.
Rep. Esin who represents Oron/Mbo/Okobo/Udung Uko/Urueoffong Oruko Federal Constituency, explained that the initiative became necessary following a previous constitutional amendment by the 9th National Assembly, which reduced the qualifying age for aspirants to the House of Representatives and State Houses of Assembly from 30 to 25 years.
“Today, to be a senator or a governor in this country, you need to attain the minimum age of 35. This further proves that if a Member at age 25 spends two terms in the House of Representatives, he will still not qualify to go to the Senate or to become a governor. The House should look into this,” Esin argued.
The bill received unanimous support from lawmakers and was subsequently referred by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further legislative consideration.
A bill for an Act to amend the National Youth Service Corps Act CAP N84 laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to review upward, the accommodation and transport allowances of Corps members in line with current realities.
A bill for an Act to establish the Federal University of Aeronautics Urue-Offong Oruko, Akwa Ibom State.
A bill for an Act to repeal the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre Act of 1989 and enact the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre Act, 2024 and for matters connected thereto.
A bill for an Act to amend the National Housing Fund Cap N45 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, to review the interest rate chargeable on the contributions made by the employer to the Fund and on mortgage sum, the penalty provisions to be paid by an employer who fails to deduct and remit the deducted contributions to the Fund within the stipulated time and encourage self-employed persons to make voluntary contributions to the Fund.
