If the recommendation of the National Conference on academic
qualifications for political offices in the country is fi- nally
adopted, those aspiring to the of- fice of the president, governors,
members of the National and State House of Assem- blies, and chairmen of
local governments will need to have a minimum of first de- gree, while
those contesting councillorship position in local governments must have a
minimum of Secondary School Certificate.
This decision, which is apparently a re- sponse to the low academic qualifications prescribed for holders of some of those of- fices in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), could not have come at a better time than now that the governance of the country has become more challenging than ever.
The higher qualification regime for polit- ical office aspirants is an improvement on the extant one, which does not even stipu- late any academic qualification for chair- men and councillors of local governments. In addition, Sections 65 (2) (a), 106 (c) 131 (d), 177 (d) of the Constitution require as- pirants to membership of the National As- sembly and State Houses of Assembly, the President and Governors to have at least a Secondary School Certificate or its equiva- lent.
We commend the National Confab for recommending a raise of the academic qualifications required for election into the critical offices of the President, Governors, National and State House Assemblies, and chairmen of local governments to at least a university degree or its equivalent, while that of councillors is at least Secondary School Certificate.
This improvement will go a long way in increasing the quality of persons that could be elected into those important offices. This thinking, which is in line with global best practice, will also help to increase the quality of representation of the people, and service delivery, at different strata of gov- ernment.
It is not in doubt that many political of- fice holders perform well below expecta- tion probably as a result of their poor edu- cation and its attendant poverty of ideas. Such persons lack the intellect to fashion out a pragmatic vision and mission for their offices. Some do not even know the essence of politics and governance in the first place, and are only propelled by the urge to acquire power and wealth.
The idea of politics as an avenue for de- livery of selfless service to the people is lost on such ill-informed individuals. Nige- ria has produced enough university gradu- ates, or their equivalents, to occupy the
This decision, which is apparently a re- sponse to the low academic qualifications prescribed for holders of some of those of- fices in the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), could not have come at a better time than now that the governance of the country has become more challenging than ever.
The higher qualification regime for polit- ical office aspirants is an improvement on the extant one, which does not even stipu- late any academic qualification for chair- men and councillors of local governments. In addition, Sections 65 (2) (a), 106 (c) 131 (d), 177 (d) of the Constitution require as- pirants to membership of the National As- sembly and State Houses of Assembly, the President and Governors to have at least a Secondary School Certificate or its equiva- lent.
We commend the National Confab for recommending a raise of the academic qualifications required for election into the critical offices of the President, Governors, National and State House Assemblies, and chairmen of local governments to at least a university degree or its equivalent, while that of councillors is at least Secondary School Certificate.
This improvement will go a long way in increasing the quality of persons that could be elected into those important offices. This thinking, which is in line with global best practice, will also help to increase the quality of representation of the people, and service delivery, at different strata of gov- ernment.
It is not in doubt that many political of- fice holders perform well below expecta- tion probably as a result of their poor edu- cation and its attendant poverty of ideas. Such persons lack the intellect to fashion out a pragmatic vision and mission for their offices. Some do not even know the essence of politics and governance in the first place, and are only propelled by the urge to acquire power and wealth.
The idea of politics as an avenue for de- livery of selfless service to the people is lost on such ill-informed individuals. Nige- ria has produced enough university gradu- ates, or their equivalents, to occupy the
top echelons of our political space. This is, indeed, the right time
to field our best brains to occupy sensitive political offices. There is
hardly any state in the country that cannot boast of adequate manpower
to man its top leadership positions. Gov- ernance is too serious an
enterprise to be left in the hands of poorly educated and ill-exposed
individuals and charlatans. The “do or die” approach to politicking in
the country is mainly due to the absence of men and women of high
intellect in the political arena. This dearth of men of intel- lect and
strong moral fibre on our political landscape is the bane of governance
in the country.
It is anomalous and even paradoxical that some people with little or no education have bulldozed themselves into high politi- cal offices, even when they have nothing to offer the electorate. The challenges of statecraft in 21st Century Nigeria require that occupants of high political offices should be well exposed men and women of honour who have been found to be worthy in learning and character. Such men and women can hardly be found outside those that passed through a university or its equivalent.
The academic qualifications for political leadership as enshrined in the 1999 Consti- tution do not augur well for socio-political development of the country. They neither encourage scholarship nor knowledge. With the high number of university gradu- ates produced yearly in the country, there is the need to increase the bar of qualifi- cations into elective political offices if this country is to witness any meaningful de- velopment.
Leaders of most of the advanced nations of the world are highly endowed intellectu- als and great men of knowledge. Academic requirements for leadership in Nigeria should not be different from what obtains globally because governance, today, is more complex than some decades ago and therefore requires well-groomed and high- ly educated persons who will not be totally lost on issues relating to science, technol- ogy, law, the environment, education, pub- lic health and literary development. Only a person with a well-rounded education and a robust mind can fathom a credible vision and mission, and judiciously implement development programmes.
While we laud this recommendation of the National Conference, we think that it ought to have specified the Higher Na- tional Diploma (HND) obtained in poly- technics as an equivalent of the university degree, to avert the age-long controversy on the dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates in the country.
It is anomalous and even paradoxical that some people with little or no education have bulldozed themselves into high politi- cal offices, even when they have nothing to offer the electorate. The challenges of statecraft in 21st Century Nigeria require that occupants of high political offices should be well exposed men and women of honour who have been found to be worthy in learning and character. Such men and women can hardly be found outside those that passed through a university or its equivalent.
The academic qualifications for political leadership as enshrined in the 1999 Consti- tution do not augur well for socio-political development of the country. They neither encourage scholarship nor knowledge. With the high number of university gradu- ates produced yearly in the country, there is the need to increase the bar of qualifi- cations into elective political offices if this country is to witness any meaningful de- velopment.
Leaders of most of the advanced nations of the world are highly endowed intellectu- als and great men of knowledge. Academic requirements for leadership in Nigeria should not be different from what obtains globally because governance, today, is more complex than some decades ago and therefore requires well-groomed and high- ly educated persons who will not be totally lost on issues relating to science, technol- ogy, law, the environment, education, pub- lic health and literary development. Only a person with a well-rounded education and a robust mind can fathom a credible vision and mission, and judiciously implement development programmes.
While we laud this recommendation of the National Conference, we think that it ought to have specified the Higher Na- tional Diploma (HND) obtained in poly- technics as an equivalent of the university degree, to avert the age-long controversy on the dichotomy between university and polytechnic graduates in the country.
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New academic qualifications for president, others |
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