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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
What should be the minimum educational qualification for the President, Governors, National and state assembly members, as well as elected council officials in Nigeria? That is one question that has pitched members of the House of Representatives against one another.
The lawmakers were sharply divided, last week, over a bill to alter the 1999 Constitution, to raise the minimum qualification for elective offices, including the office of President, Governors, National and state assembly members, as well as local chairman and councillors.
The bill sponsored by the deputy Chief whip of the House, wants the Constitution amended to raise the qualification for elective office to a minimum of first degree or its equivalent. Sections 65(2)(a),106(d)
131(d) and 177(c) of the 1999 Constitution ( as amended), prescribes a minimum of School Certificate or its equivalent, as educational qualifications, for elected public officials.
However, Onanuga had argued that “We all know that after a university degree or its equivalent in this country, comes the compulsory National Youth Service Corps, without which it would be difficult to get into any employment especially within the Public Sector.
“Invariably, by leaving the qualification of this political offices to remain at School Certificate level, we are implying that the NYSC is not a requirement to hold political offices but it is a requirement to secure a job in the Public Sector.
“How do we place value on education; if I say to my son who wants to be a doctor that he needs a university degree or its equivalent to achieve his dream and then say to my daughter who wants to be a President someday that she only needs to have a School Certificate?”
Indications that the debate was going to be heated emerged when Babajimi Benson, challenged the opponents of the bill, to tell the House whether or not their children are in universities, studying for degree or not. Benson, who represents Ikorodu Federal Constituency of Lagos State, while contributing to the debate said it was unbelievable that anyone could oppose such a bill in this modern age.
According to him, “anybody who is going to oppose this bill must also tell us of his ward; his child is in a university for a degree or not. Then, they will be entitled to oppose. We have told severally, all over the world, it has been proven that the visa to prosperity is three things- education, education, education.
“I cannot believe that in this modern age, some people will oppose and say don’t go to school. Don’t go to school and be President of Nigeria. It is ludicrous to think that way.”
The House leader, Julius Ihonbvere concurs. He says, “we all know that this is a different world. It is world of ideas, of knowledge, of ability to read the face and minds. It is a world where knowledge is power. It is a world where when you have knowledge and you combine it with wisdom, nobody can stand in your way.
“We also see leaders of other nations talking, articulating issues engaging the public and engaging their opponents and we are proud of them. Then we have some here that are dodging debates. Presidential debates, they won’t come. Give press conference, they won’t go, because they are afraid to face the public, with unanticipated questions. The world is moving. Let Nigeria not be left behind.”
Nevertheless, the deputy minority leader, Aliyu Madaki disagreed vehemently. Madaki, while opposing the bill, said it has been proven that one does not need a university degree or its equivalent to be a good leader. He argued that the bill is discriminatory.
According to him, “ I have three grown up children and they have all finished university. And the other one I have is in the university. Your level of education is never a determining factor of what you will do if you are placed in an office as president, governor, members of the House of Representatives.
“Let’s allow everybody to contest. Don’t say because there is somebody, who finished secondary, who is very popular in your area, who will defeat you, then you frame a law. Let everybody contest.”
Similarly, the member representing Chibok/ Damboa Federal Constituency, Ahmed Jaha, said it is the fault of the government that several Nigerians do not have first degree or its equivalent. Consequently, Jaha argued that raising the minimum qualification for elective office would mean punishing the citizens unjustly.
He queried: “How many Nigerians are degree holders? Substantial number of Nigerians are less than degree holders. And now you are saying only a degree can be enfranchised. Are we fair to our people? “
Jaha added “Why would you punish Nigerians for the failures of their state? If people are not educated, who is going to be blamed? It is the country. Because even in the budget, we are not ready to promote education.
“I am not doing this for myself. I am doing it for Nigerians, I don’t want them to be disenfranchised. I want us to understand one thing. Qualification is not a true taste of knowledge. And it has been attested to by everybody.”
For Kabiru Ahmadu , member representing Gusau/ Tsafe Federal Constituency of Zamfara State, ability to memorize the holy Quoran or the holy Bible, is more than enough qualification to hold any elective office. According to him, “in my state in Zamfara, before you go to any school, you must go to Islamic school. In my state, If you can memorize holy Quran, you are better than anybody. “
He further noted: “who can call somebody who memorize holy Quran or who read holy Quran or memorize holy Bible as somebody who cannot be a leader just because he wasn’t opportune to attend a university. These two holy books guide leadership and anything that had to do with government of the people.”
Martins Oke, who represents Igboetiti Uzo-uwani Federal Constituency of Enugu State, added that raising the minimum education qualification for elective offices would be discriminatory.
“We are talking about democracy. Democracy is about the people. When you talk about certification, as regards to qualification for running election or participation in governance, we have to be very careful. We are not forming a club of elites. This bill is elitist. It doesn’t include people. It is exclusive. We are not trying to build a club of people who own certificates.
“Those who crafted the Constitution, the philosophy they had, they tried to bend backward by saying that the real qualification actually is first school leaving certificate, with experience , so that we don’t sacrifice these experiences on the altar of certification, “ Oke argued.
Nevertheless, Ihonvbere said it is important for the parliament to know that the world today is not ruled by “street knowledge”. He said “ let us stop deceiving ourselves… the world today is not ruled by street knowledge. It is not ruled by what people say behind you. It is ruled by what you know. What you can read and understand what you are reading and come up with something.”
Regardless, the House leader opined that elected officials at the local government level should be exempted from the proposed legislation.
Also, the chairman, House Committee on Alternative Education, Aliyu Mustapha, stated that the Constitution alteration to raise the minimum educational qualification for elective office holder is long overdue. However, Mustapha noted that “the only gap I observed in the bill is the accelerated jump from the school leaving certificate to degree. I think there should be a mid point; particularly for the state assembly members.”
The minority leader, Kingsley Chinda, while supporting the bill, said while in the First republic, people with First School Leaving Certificate could be classroom teachers or even directors in government ministries, the times have changed.
“Can you tell me that a school certificate holder in 1966 can still be compared to a school cert holder today? The difference is so clear.
“For those who have primary school certificate in 1966, the quality of education they had then, the position they occupied then is equivalent to positions of managing director who had degrees today.
“Do we continue in that step today to say that a primary school certificate holder should occupy positions today? Even in employment, private sector. Go and apply for job today with first school leaving certificate. What kind of job will you be given. Then, we are talking of public offices,” Chinda stated.
After a very long and heated debate, Onanuga applied to step down the bill for further consultations. For the lawmaker, it is apparently a case of “he who fights and runs, lives to fight another day”.
The sponsor, by stepping down the bill may want to represent it later. But whether or not she represents it, the last may not have been heard about this contentious bill.
