During a debate at the House of Representatives plenary session on Tuesday, Onanuga argued that a higher education level was essential for effective leadership. While some lawmakers, including House Leader Julius Ihonvbere, initially supported the proposal, others, such as Aliyu Madaki (APC, Kano) and Ahmadu Jaha (APC, Borno), opposed it, claiming that it would disenfranchise qualified individuals who may not have formal university degrees but possess valuable experience and leadership skills.
As a result, Onanuga chose to temporarily withdraw the bill, stating, “It appears some of our colleagues need further lobbying. I will move to step down the bill for now.”