The House of Representatives has sounded alarm bells about the imminent disenfranchisement of Nigerian youth, especially those in higher education.
In its plenary session on Thursday, the House of Representatives urged, inter alia, the National Commission for Universities, the National Commission for Technical Education, the National Commission for Educational Universities, and the Federal Ministry of Education, to call on all institutions of higher education to suspend academic activity for the duration of their studies. instructed to do so.” selection. ”
The House also asked the Independent National Electoral Commission to make special arrangements for students to collect permanent voter cards.
In addition, lawmakers ordered the House Committee on Higher Education and Election Affairs to communicate with agencies to expedite the process and report to Congress within a week for further legislative action.
These resolutions are a unanimous motion of urgent importance, moved by Congressman Kabir Tukhla entitled “Urgent Need to Give Nigerian Higher Education Students the Opportunity to Vote in General Elections”. followed the adoption of
According to available statistics, there are over 2.1 million students currently studying in Nigerian universities, and over 2.4 million students are enrolled in polytechnic, monotechnic, and teaching colleges across the country.
Lawmakers also noted that the academic calendars of various higher education institutions were structured “so that most students would be disenfranchised because school calendars do not take into account the timeline and dates of elections.” Did. He said the lack of flexibility makes it difficult for students to participate in the electoral process.
Tsukukura emphasized that 3.8 million newly registered voters are students, accounting for 40.8% of the total number of newly registered voters. in Abuja.
Lawmakers said, “The House of Representatives is urging each agency to vote in the 2023 election because these students, who make up 40.8% of newly registered voters, have voting units in off-campus states. I am concerned that I will have to move out.
“The House is further concerned that institutions of higher education are not considering academic leave for students during general elections. Despite knowing that they registered off-campus during the popular voter registration campaign.”
Lawmakers noted that INEC has delegated PVC distribution in registered areas and wards of 774 local government offices across the Commonwealth. He added that the distribution of his PVC on the ward has ended and the exercise has returned to his LGA office. “It further limited the opportunity for students to collect her PVC, a prerequisite for voting in the ballot.”
“The House of Representatives said that while students were busy with their academic activities, the Independent National Electoral Commission was working to distribute PVC in each of the federation’s 774 LGA districts, depriving students of the opportunity to collect PVC. I am concerned that
“The House is further concerned that higher education institutions are not considering election periods when designing their academic calendars. Because it administers semester exams when they are taking place, thereby depriving students of their rights from fulfilling their civic duties.
“The House of Representatives recognizes that INEC has enormous statutory powers to make special arrangements for students to collect PVC for balloting. As the regulator of higher education in Nigeria, we have the legal authority to direct both public and private higher education institutions in Nigeria to suspend their academic activities pending the outcome of the general election.”