Newsletter: Constitutional Amendment Bills

On Thursday May 31, 2018, President Buhari, signed the Not-Too-Young-To-Run Constitution Amendment Bill, which reduces the minimum ages for elective office in Nigeria, as follows:

• Eligible age for aspirants for members of the State Houses of Assembly, from 30 to 25 years
• Eligible age for aspirants for members of the Federal House of Representatives, from 30 to 25 years
• Eligible age for aspirants for Office of the President, from 40 to 35 years.

On Friday June 8, 2018, President Buhari signed an additional four Constitution Amendment Bills

1/ A Bill to promote the fiscal independence of the Legislative and Judicial Arms of State Governments by directly funding them from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF).

2/ A Bill to provide INEC with sufficient time to conduct bye-elections, and to provide clearly spelt out grounds for de-registration of political parties
Sections of Constitution Altered: 134, 179; insertion of a new Section 225A.

3/ A Bill to disqualify a person who was sworn-in as President or Governor to complete term of elected President or Governor from being elected to the same office for more than a single term.
Sections of Constitution Altered: 137, 182.

4/ A Bill to make provisions for pre-election matters and time for the determination of pre-election disputes.
Section of Constitution Altered: 285