Breaking: Buhari receives group of young Nigerians as he finally signs 'Not Too Young To Run' bill

macfranc007 June 01, 2018 IFTTT, Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Naija news 24/7 Oluwatobi Bolashodun

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, May 31, finally signed the 'Not Too Young to Run' bill into law.

This was disclosed in a tweet by the personal assistant to the president on new media, Bashir Ahmad.

While signing the bill, the president, on a lighter mood, ‘appealed’ to young people to defer their presidential ambition till after the 2019 general elections.

He congratulated the young people over the signing of the bill, and urged them to be more enterprising and self-sustaining

According to presidential aide, Bashir Ahmad, the president walked into the Council Chamber to make history as signs the bill into law.

The president had earlier disclosed in a tweet via his official Twitter account, saying: "Yesterday I hosted a talented group of young Nigerians who will soon be traveling to Russia carrying the passions & emotions of 180 million people.

"Today I look forward to welcoming to the State House another group of young Nigerians, as I sign into law the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill."

During his Democracy day broadcast on Tuesday, May 29, President Buhari had revealed that he would be joined by many promising young Nigerians to sign the bill soon.

The #NotTooYoungToRun Bill seeks to alter the Section 65, 106, 131, 177 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to reduce the age qualification for the office of the President from 40 years to 30 years; Governor 35 to 30, Senate 35 to 30, House of Representatives 30 to 25 and State House of Assembly 30 to 25.

The Bill also seeks to mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral process.

NAIJ.com previously reported that Senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki, said that the passage and assent to the #NotTooYoungToRun bill, will be the first phase in the journey for more youth inclusion in politics.

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Saraki made the statement at a meeting with the Not Too Young Run movement comprising of many notable groups in the country.

The Senate president encouraged Nigerian youths to advocate for free and fair elections, stating that the next step in the advocacy process is to ensure that more young people have their Permanent Voter's Cards (PVCs).

2019: Ahmed Buhari tells Nigerians he is the best option for president on NAIJ.com TV