The National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) has backed the bill and ongoing debates to bar persons who are 70-year-olds and above from contesting elective positions in the country.

The National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of NYCN, Mr. Bestman Okereafor, said this in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday in Enugu.

Okereafor said that the bill currently being debated by the national Lawmakers shows that the country was moving in the right direction of people-oriented and youth-oriented legislation.

“The attention of the intervention regime of NYCN has been drawn to a progressive minded and youth-inclined bill seeking to bar people from 70 years and above from contesting elective positions in the country.

“Information at our disposal reveals that debates on the general principles of a bill which seeks to bar Nigerian above the age of 70-year-olds from contesting election into various political offices in Nigeria is underway in the House of Representatives.

“The bill is being sponsored by the Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.

“The bill is seeking to amend relevant sections of the 1999 Constitution to achieve this purpose.

“NYCN wish to unequivocally state that Nigerian youths are fully supporting this proposed bill.

“No doubt this bill will avail Nigerian youths the opportunity of contesting elective positions in the country in line with the previously signed Not-Too-Young-To-Run Bill by his Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari,” he said.

Okereafor also said that Nigerian youths were displeased with the proposed N37 billion national assembly complex building, renovation fund; adding that the amount was “too much”.

“We consider this as a waste of our collective resources and call on the leadership of the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency review and drastically reduce the said proposed renovation fund in the best interest of Nigerians.

“And in line with the anti-corruption crusade of President Buhari,” he said.

He said that NYCN wishes all Nigerian youths across the globe a happy New Year, adding that “our utmost prayers remain that this New Year be filled with peace, success, joy, happiness and new developments for all youths.”

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