Jelili yusuf

The House of Representatives has passed for first reading, a bill to abolish secondary school certificates as a qualification to run for president, governors and national assembly members.

The secondary school certificate is to be replaced by a degree or its equivalent in the bill sponsored by Oriyomi Onanuga from Ogun State.

The bill introduced on Tuesday seeks to amend sections 66, 106, 131 and 171 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

The proposed bill, if passed, will mean that lawmakers, governors and presidential aspirants must have a minimum qualification of Bachelor Degree, Higher National Diploma, Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA) and other degree equivalent certificates.

A date will have to be fixed for the second reading of the bill.

The Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila had also promised that the lawmakers will consider increasing the qualification for elective offices.