the ongoing constitution review process or face mass action.
The demand
was contained in a press statement signed by 53 youth organizations.
Representatives of the groups held a press conference in Abuja. Several members
of the #NOTTOOYOUNGTORUN coalition were at the press conference.
Speaking on
behalf of the group, Maryam Laishi said that the youths across the country
would commence picketing of the National Assembly and embark on a series of
other mass actions against legislature if the leadership of the constitution
review committees failed to give an account within 48 hours of the
#NOTTOOYOUNGTORUN bill.
Ms. Laishi
noted that there were indications that the joint committee of the Senate and
House of Representatives constitution review committee had excluded the 'Not
Too Young To Run' bill from the ongoing constitution review process.
She added
that the bill was the only proposed constitutional amendment that promotes
youth participation in the political process through the removal of age limits
for running for office.
The group
maintained that the bill had passed the first and second readings in both
Houses in fulfillment of the constitutional amendment procedure.
"Their
arguments against the bill are an affirmation that most of our lawmakers are
not committed to youth empowerment, intergenerational dialogue, and civic
participation. The arguments include the fact that there is palpable fear that
most legislators in the 8th Assembly will be unseated in the 2019 elections by
young people if the bill is passed."
The youth
organizations added that since the return to democracy in 1999, Nigerian youth
had been pushing boundaries and involved in promoting transparency and
accountability.
The group
has declared Tuesday, July 25 as National Day of Action, noting that the youth
in Nigeria plans to occupy the National Assembly and commence recall processes
of the senators in their various constituencies.
"We
will petition the International Parliament Union (IPU) to relocate the venue of
the forthcoming regional conference scheduled for September 2017 away from
Nigeria and finally a one million people march in Abuja and across the Federation," Ms. Laisha said.
She urged
Nigerian youths to remain resolute in their demand and stay committed to
mobilizing fellow youth and citizens to make their voices heard beyond the din
of politics in order to pursue the passage of the 'Not Too Young To Run' bill
into law.
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