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Beyond Duplication: Building Stronger Institutions

By Fred Nwaozor Nigeria’s law-enforcement institutions remain central to the protection of lives, property, public resources and the rule of law. However, concerns about overlapping mandates, institutional weaknesses, inadequate coordination and the cost of maintaining numerous agencies performing closely related functions have continued to generate debate. Strengthening these institutions should therefore go beyond increasing personnel or procuring equipment. It should involve structural reforms that improve effectiveness, accountability and public confidence. One important area for reform is the rationalisation of agencies with substantially overlapping responsibilities. The existence of several institutions dealing with corruption, financial crimes, economic offences and related misconduct can create duplication, jurisdictional confusion and unnecessary administrative expenditure. A carefully designed merger of related agencies could pr...

Lawmakers reduce Eligibility Age for Senate, Guber Positions to 30

Ken Akpan
A constitutional amendment bill seeking to reduce the minimum age for contesting the offices of Governor and Senator from 35 to 30 years has passed second reading in the Nigeria's House of Representatives, on November 18, 2025.

The proposal, titled A Bill for an Act to Alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) to Reduce the Age for Qualification for Membership of the Senate and Office of the Governor and for Related Matters (HB. 2235), is sponsored by Esin Martin Etim alongside 24 other lawmakers.

Nigeria’s current constitution stipulates that candidates for the Senate and governorship must be at least 35 years old, while those vying for the House of Representatives can contest from age 25.

Etim, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lawmaker, representing Mbo/Okobo/Oron/Udung Uko/Urue Offong/Oruko Federal Constituency in Akwa Ibom State, argued that the existing age requirement limits the political advancement of young legislators.

He noted that lawmakers who join the House at age 25 and serve two full terms would still be ineligible to run for Senate or governor at the end of eight years.

He said reducing the minimum age to 30 would create a more realistic pathway for younger politicians, maintaining a five-year gap between eligibility for the House of Representatives and the higher offices.

After the lead debate, Speaker Tajudeen Abbas put the bill to a voice vote, where it received overwhelming support for second reading.

The legislation has been forwarded to the House Committee on Constitution Review for further consideration.

RostrumNews

Fred Nwaozor, popularly known as TheMediaAmbassador, is a Nigerian tech expert, author, creative & content writer, media strategist, policy analyst, blogger, public speaker and rights activist. The renowned columnist regularly writes for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), and is the Founder & Convener of Right Thinkers Movement (RITMO), Nigeria. He's a chartered industrial physicist, engineer and IT personnel. As a media guru, he enjoys an active presence in all media segments - including electronic, print & online - since two decades ago till date. As a full-time researcher and educator, he's a regular contributor and peer reviewer for various internationally-noted engineering journals. As Telecommunications and Automation engineer, his research interest mainly lies in System Modelling, Internet of Things (IoT), Smart city, Cybersecurity, Wireless networks, and Machine Learning (ML).