NotTooYoungToRun movement writes open letter to Buhari on age reduction bill
In the letter seen by NAIJ.com dated Wednesday, March 14, the groups urged President Muhammadu Buhari to assent to the age reduction bill as soon as the National Assembly transmits the constitutional amendment bills to him.
- The NotTooYoungToRun movement is going strong as the days go by
- 55 groups that make up the movement have written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari
- They urged the president to assent to the age reduction bill
55 groups that make up the NotTooYoungToRun movement have written an open letter to President Muhammadu Buhari.
In the letter seen by NAIJ.com, the groups urged the president to assent to the age reduction bill as soon as the National Assembly transmits the constitutional amendment bills to him.
“This demand is premised on five key points which include: promoting inclusion, deepening intergenerational dialogue and exchange, and enhancing democratic development,” the letter signed by Samson Itodo, convener of the movement stated.
The groups include The Nigerian Youth Parliament, YIAGA Africa, Say No Campaign Nigeria, Connected Development, YALI Network, Social Good Nigeria, Abuja Global Shapers, among others.
Read the letter below:
Dear President Buhari,
REQUEST FOR ASSENT TO THE AGE REDUCTION BILL (NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN)
We the undersigned members of the Not Too Young To Run movement bring you greetings. The Movement comprises youth and civil society organizations drawn from different parts of the country working to promote youth issues in policy making and constitution review process.
Background
Mr. President, since last year, young Nigerians across divide have worked very hard to advocate for the age reduction bill. This demand is premised on five key points which include: promoting inclusion, deepening intergenerational dialogue and exchange, and enhancing democratic development. Till date, this campaign has gained both national and global attention with the United Nations adopting it as a global campaign for youth inclusion. More recently, the African Union and ECOWAS also endorsed the campaign. The campaign has been launched in several countries in Africa like Kenya, Gambia, Liberia, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Cameroun and Sierra Leone. The Not Too Young to Run movement has become a rallying call for ALL Nigerian youths who are ready to make meaningful contributions to development of our country, and who have recognized that THERE IS NO MEANINGUL REPRESENTATION WITHOUT INCLUSION.
The #NotTooYoungToRun bill is a bill that seeks to reduce the constitutional age requirement for running for elective office in Nigeria. The ultimate goal of the bill is to promote increased youth participation in the political process. The movement has engaged with the leadership of the national and state legislatures through visits and personalized letters to all 109 Senators, 360 members of the House of Representatives and 991 House of Assembly members; National Days of Action in 24 states and the FCT with an estimated 10,000 people participating; appearances on all the major media stations in Nigeria and the international media; as well as sustained interactive social media conversations.
In July 2017, the Nigerian Senate passed the #NotTooYoungtoRun bill, with an overwhelming majority (86 Senators). The bill was also passed by a large majority (261 members) in the House of Representatives. In February 2018, the age reduction constitution amendment bill popularly known as the Not Too Young To Run bill was passed by 33 out of 36 state Houses of Assembly. The bill is amongst the amendments transmitted to the National Assembly by the State Assembly on March 1, 2018.
With this unprecedented feat, the world looks to you to assent to the constitutional amendment. Once you assent, the bill becomes law making it possible for young people to run for office in 2019 and beyond.
Our Request
It is against this background that the #NotTooYoungToRun movement requests that you assent to the Age Reduction bill as soon as the National Assembly transmits the constitutional amendment bills to you.
While we look forward to your kind consideration of our request, please accept the assurances of our highest esteem.
Sincerely,
Itodo Samson
Convener, Not Too Young To Run movement
Last week, the groups marched to the presidential villa where they demanded audience with the president.
They were prevented from going past the entrance of Nigeria's seat of power, Aso Rock by policemen.
However, they were later addressed by Nigeria's minister of aviation, Captain Hadi Sirika, who promised that the president will assent to the bill.
He said the president is a democrat and will always listen to young people in their quest for active political participation.
Not Too Young to Run Bill: Nigerian youths march to Aso Rock in support on Naij.com TV
Source: Naija.ng