House Passes Bill to Jail Non-voters for Six Months for Second Reading, Enforce Voting
The House of Representatives, has passed for second reading a bill seeking to make voting compulsory for Nigerians of voting age. The Bill also proposed imposing a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine of no more than N100,000 for Nigerians of voting age, who failed to vote during elections. Titled “A Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make It Mandatory for All Nigerians of Majority Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters,” the bill was sponsored by the Speaker, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas. The bill, which was first introduced in February was presented at the plenary yesterday by the co-sponsor of the bill and member representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Hon. Daniel Asama. He explained that Nigeria’s persistently low voter turnoutundermines electoral legitimacy and weakens democratic institutions. Asama stated: “Voting is not only the right, but a civic responsibility. For global precedents, several democracies, including Aust...