Nigerian Lawmakers Reject Proposal to Require University Degree as Minimum Qualification for President, Governors, and National Assembly Members

“Nigerian lawmakers on Tuesday declined a proposal aiming to amend the constitution, which would have raised the educational qualifications required for presidential, gubernatorial, and legislative candidacy to a university degree level. Deputy Chief Whip Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, also known as Ijaya, sponsored the bill, contending that higher education standards are imperative for effective leadership. However, some legislators opposed the bill, arguing that educational credentials do not necessarily correlate with leadership aptitude. Despite vigorous debate during the plenary session, the bill was deferred due to unforeseen circumstances. Onanuga highlighted the inadequacy of secondary school certificates, advocating for a minimum requirement of a university degree for all elective positions. Supporting the initiative, Babajimi Benson noted its overdue nature, citing previous attempts to introduce similar legislation. He challenged detractors by questioning their stance in light of their own children’s university attendance. Several other lawmakers, including Minority Leader Kingsley Chinda, Majority