The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has withdrawn the proposed bill seeking to make voting compulsory for all eligible Nigerians.
The decision was made public on Monday through a statement by his media adviser, Musa Abdullahi Krishi.
According to the Speaker, the bill, which he co-sponsored with Hon. Daniel Adama Ago, was shelved after “extensive consultations with a broad spectrum of stakeholders.”
He explained that the idea behind the bill was to encourage civic responsibility and boost voter turnout. “From the outset,” he said, “the Bill was introduced with the best of intentions, to bolster civic engagement and strengthen our democracy by encouraging higher voter turnout.”
The Speaker pointed to countries like Australia, Belgium, and Brazil, where compulsory voting has been credited with keeping participation rates above 90 per cent. “Nations like Argentina and Singapore have also implemented similar measures to foster inclusivity at the ballot box,” the statement noted.
But despite these global examples, Abbas says Nigerian democracy must reflect the will and comfort of its people.
He admitted that good lawmaking must strike a balance between promoting participation and respecting citizens’ freedoms. “This withdrawal will allow time for further dialogue on how best to cultivate a culture of voluntary participation that honours both our democratic ideals and the rights of our citizens,” he said.
Rather than forcing people to the polls, the Speaker says he is now more interested in finding creative ways to make voting attractive and easier for Nigerians.
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