“If a person has the right to vote, he or she should also have the right to run for office.” – UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, Ahmad Alhendawi

On Tuesday, the United Nations (UN) launched the “Not Too Young To Run” global campaign. The campaign seeks to increase the inclusion of young people in politics and public offices while addressing age discrimination. It was kicked off at the first United Nations Forum on Human Rights, Democracy and the Rule of Law, in Geneva, Switzerland.

The campaign was launched by a partnership consisting of the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth, the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the European Youth Forum (EYF) and the Youth Initiative for Advocacy Growth & Advancement (YIAGA).

The “Not Too Young To Run” campaign gives impetus to the movement of the same name that was started by the political rights group, YIAGA, in Nigeria.

Global Key figures

• 51% of the world’s population is under 30 (In Nigeria, youth make up 60% of the population);
• 2%: The percentage of young people under 30 who are members of parliament globally;
• About 30% of the world’s lower houses of parliament have no MPs aged under 30;
• More than 80% of the world’s upper houses of parliament have no MPs aged under 30; and
• 73% of countries restrict young people from running for houses of parliament, even when they can vote.

The average Age of Nigerian Youth in Public Office…anything but young.

The Nigerian national youth policy defines youth as between 18-35 years but the age restrictions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for elective offices has created a widening gap between the voting age which is 18 and eligibility to run for office. It is a discriminatory and classic case of inequality as the key thing to note in governance is active participation. Despite 18 being the constitutionally accepted voting age, it robs youth of the opportunity to pursue their political aspirations until a certain age.

Nigeria’s youngest democratically elected president is Goodluck Jonathan, was 54-years-old as at his time of the election in 2011. At the federal level of Buhari’s administration, youth representation is poor as the average age of the ministers is 53 – the Minister for Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung is 52 years old while the youngest of the ministers are the Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, and Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun both of whom are aged 49, so far youngest person employed in the Presidency  is the personal assistant on New Media, Bashir Ahmad who is 24 years old – however he is not in a position to shape policies.

The argument of the older ruling generation is that the present young Nigerians lack the needed experience to rule and be great leaders, but the ruling class is comprised of leaders who have held on to power for over 30 years from their youth all in the name of garnering “experience”.

#NotTooYoungToRun Bill in Nigeria

The bill was first introduced and sponsored by Honourable Tony Nwulu, in May 2016 and it seeks to alter sections 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 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 years of age. The bill also seeks to mainstream independent candidacy into Nigeria’s electoral process.

The #NotTooYoungToRun Bill if completely and successfully passed, will protect the interest of Nigerian youths as it will enhance and increase opportunities for youths to contribute to democratic governance in Nigeria.

The bill has already passed its second reading in the House of Representatives and currently at the Committee Stage. However, to become law, it would need to pass through third reading, move to the Senate for concurrence and be assented by the Nigeria’s President.

It is a strong notion held by proponents of the bill that youth involvement in questionable political activities such violence and racketeering would also be reduced.

The global campaign by the UN is a welcome development and hopefully, one that will drive for the #NotTooYoungToRun bill to be passed into law in Nigeria. Around the world, campaigns are underway to promote the rights of young people running for public office by seeking to lower the legal age of candidacy, and if passed into law will ensure a democratic process that encourages the contribution of “tomorrow’s future leaders”, today.

You can view a copy of the #NotTooYoungToRun Bill for Nigeria here.