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60-year Age Limit Bill For Presidential, Gov Candidates Passes Second Reading

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The House of Representatives has passed for second reading a bill seeking to stop anyone above 60 years from vying for election to the Offices of the President and Governor in Nigeria.

If this bill scales legislative scrutiny and is signed into law, President Bola Tinubu, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr Peter Obi, will miss out on the 2027 presidential contest as they are all above 60 years of age.

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Titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to review the requirements that qualify a person to be elected as President and Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Governors and Deputy Governor of a State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and for Related Matters” was sponsored by Imo lawmaker, Ikenga Ugochinyere.

The bill was one of the 31 proposed legislations which scaled second reading during Thursday’s plenary session.

The bill provides that “A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if he has been educated up to at least university level and has earned a Bachelor’s degree in his chosen field of study.

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“Section 131 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting a paragraph which reads, “That he is not more than 60 years at the time of vying for the Office of President.

“Section 177(d) of the principal Act is amended by altering the educational requirement that qualifies persons to be elected as governor as follows:

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“A person shall be qualified for election to the Office of the President if he has been educated up to at least university level and has earned a Bachelor’s degree in his chosen field of study.

“That he is not more than 60 years old at the time of vying for the office of Governor.”

A bill to provide statutory backing for the establishment of Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education in Imo State also passed second reading.

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READ ALSO: FG Declares Public Holidays For Eid el-Fitr Celebration

The bill, sponsored by Ugochinyere, aims to elevate the institution’s status, granting it federal recognition and funding support.

The House also passed for second reading a Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution to provide for mandatory inclusion of youths and persons living with disabilities in political appointments.

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This bill, also sponsored by the Imo lawmaker, seeks to promote inclusivity and representation in governance.

Similarly, the bill to move trade and commerce to the concurrent legislative list, aimed at enhancing interstate commerce, also scaled second reading during plenary.

When passed into law, the proposed legislation will empower federal and state governments to regulate trade, thus boosting economic activities between and within the two layers of government.

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READ ALSO: Natasha Faults INEC, Says Petition For Recall Should Have Been Dismissed

Also considered and approved was the Federal University of Education, Zaria (Establishment) Bill, 2025, sponsored by Speaker Abbas and Plateau lawmaker Yusuf Gagdi.

This bill aims to establish a specialised university focused on teacher education in Zaria. Other education-related bills include the establishment of Yusuf Maitama Sule Federal University of Education in Kano and the University of Nigerian Languages in Aba, among others.

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Also passed for second reading is the Reserved Seats for Women in National and State Assemblies Bill, 2025, sponsored by Rep. Kafilat Ogbara.

The bill aims to promote gender inclusivity by reserving specific legislative seats for women.

The Inclusion of Youths and Persons with Disabilities in Political Appointments Bill, 2025, sponsored by Ugochinyere, also passed the second reading.

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READ ALSO: Troops Arrest Two Suspects Over Killing Of Catholic Priest

The bill aims to ensure greater participation of marginalised groups in government.

Additionally, judicial reforms are on the agenda with bills such as the Timelines for Justice Administration Bill, 2025, sponsored by Benjamin Kalu, which seeks to enhance the justice delivery system in the country.

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Another proposal, “The Increase in Number of Supreme Court & Court of Appeal Justices Bill, sponsored by Bello Kaoje, calls for an expansion in the number of justices to improve the efficiency of the judiciary.”

The House also deliberated on bills related to the creation of new states, with the Creation of Wan State (North Central) Bill, 2025 and the Creation of Gobir State (North West) Bill, 2025 also passing for second reading.

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IGP Appoints New Force PRO

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The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved the appointment of Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Benjamin Hundeyin as the new Force Public Relations Officer (FPRO).

Hundeyin, a graduate of English Language from Lagos State University, also holds a Master’s degree in Legal Criminology and Security Psychology from the University of Ibadan. He further obtained a Certificate in Civil-Military Coordination from the Martin Luther Agwai International Leadership and Peacekeeping Training Centre, Jaji, Kaduna State.

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The new FPRO is an Associate of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), a Member of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), and an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria (CIPM).

READ ALSO:Police PRO, Adejobi, Removed , Assigned New Office

A seasoned communicator, Hundeyin previously served as the Police Public Relations Officer at Zone 2 Command, Lagos, and later at the Lagos State Police Command.

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He was also part of Nigeria’s contingent to the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, Sudan, in 2020, and at different times worked at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, as Administration Officer in the Public Relations Department.

The IGP urged Hundeyin to deploy his wealth of experience in communications and security to further strengthen the image of the Nigeria Police Force and sustain robust relations with the public.

He takes over from DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, who served as Force PRO until his redeployment.

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Jonathan In Edo, Says Nigeria’s Politics Full Of Betrayals

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Former President Goodluck Jonathan has decried the level of betrayal and lies in Nigeria’s political atmosphere.

Jonathan spoke in Benin on Thursday at the 70th birthday ceremony of his former Chief of Staff and former deputy governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe.

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Jonathan, who described Ogiadomhe as an ally that can be trusted all time, added: “One of the few friends that gave up their necks when I became president, is Mike. You know politics in the Nigerian standard is about betrayals.

“You find it difficult to see somebody who will say the same thing in the morning and in the evening. I’ve witnessed a lot of betrayals, especially my 2015 elections, and Mike is somebody who would take a bullet on my behalf.

READ ALSO:APC Mocks Jonathan As ADC Woos Him For 2027 Race

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“He is somebody that you can take his word to the bank; most other politicians, you cannot take their words to the bank. They will tell you something, the next one hour they are saying another”.

On his part, deputy governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, who represented Governor Monday Okpebholo, said the foundation Ogiadomhe laid as deputy is what is still being followed.

Lucky Igbinedion on his part said he had no reservation handing over the affairs of the state to Ogiadomhe as his deputy governor when he needed to travel abroad.

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READ ALSO:2027: Jonathan’s Cousin Tackles Keyamo Over Ex-president Not Qualified Comment

Also speaking former governor of the state and senator representing Edo North, Comrade Adams Oahiomhole said whenever he discussed politics with the celebrant, he always told him that wherever Jonathan is, is where he would be.

He commended his wife, Lousia for being a dependable wife.

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The birthday celebration attracted many dignitaries including former governors Lucky Igbinedion, Professor Osarhiemen Osunbor, Adams Oahiomhole and Ibrahim Dakwambo of Gombe State.

Others included former deputy governors including Rev. Peter Obadan, Pius Odubu, Marvelous Omobayo, Chief Judge of Edo State Daniel Okungbowa, Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Blessing Agbebaku who led other members of the assembly, traditional rulers among others.

 

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ITF Warns Organisations, Employers Against Rejection Of IT Students

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The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has warned organisations and employers nationwide against rejecting students seeking attachment for their Industrial Training (IT) exercises.

ITF Area Manager in Bauchi, Dr Ashore Paul, issued the warning on Thursday during the orientation exercise for prospective IT students of the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi.

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Represented by Mrs Nanzem Yilshuut, Head of Training at the ITF Bauchi Area Office, Paul said that “the act establishing the Fund mandates every organisation to accept students for industrial attachment.”

He further stated that any employer or organisation found in breach of these provisions was liable to conviction and sanctions.

READ ALSO:ITF Trains 120 Youth In Plumbing, Solar Power Installation, Others In Bauchi State

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Paul also urged the prospective IT students to adhere to the rules and regulations of any organisation they joined and to be willing to learn and fulfill their responsibilities.

When these students come back, we expect that there is a difference.

“They should have learned something new because definitely, what they learned in school, would be expected to be put into practicals.

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“This will help them in their academics and also assist them in their future endeavours.

READ ALSO: JUST IN: Provide Update On Missing N3bn Within 48 Hours, Reps Tells ITF

They must participate 100 per cent, they must be disciplined and they must be willing to learn.

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“We go round to ensure that they are doing what they are expected to do at their places of attachment.

“When we go for supervision, we ensure that what they are learning is in line with their courses,” he said.

The Rector of the institution, Sani Usman, said that the industrial attachment was an activity that enabled polytechnics to fulfill their mandate as technology and skill-driven institutions.

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READ ALSO:Edo Govt Lauds ITF On Training Of 100 Edo Youths On Skills

“Our students are given industrial experience during their first year so as to be registered in their minds that all of them are meant to be skilled class men and women and that is why the industrial attachment is very important.

“It enables them to build on what they have learned in their respective classrooms and practicals during the year,” he said.

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Usman emphasised the importance of proper supervision during industrial training.

READ ALSO: I’m Being Impersonated – Goodluck Jonathan Disowns Social Media Account

According to him, it will ensure students not only attend their placements but also carry out their assigned tasks effectively.

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“The supervision is also to see that the employers or the places they have been sent to do their Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) do not exploit them to the level that is not required by the institution”, he said.

He further revealed that 3,000 students across all departments in the institution were going for this year’s SIWES.

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