Diaspora Voting Bill to Get Second Reading—Reps Member

By Dipo Olowookere

A member of the House of Representatives, Mrs Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, has assured Nigerians living outside the country that the diaspora voting bill before the National Assembly will soon get a second reading at the lower chamber of the parliament.

The lawmaker gave this assurance when she had a meeting with Nigerians living in the United States. She stressed that the 9th assembly was committed to ensuring that the Diaspora community have a crucial say on who occupy public offices in Nigeria despite not living in the country.

At the moment, members of the parliament are on their annual recess and should resume next month for their normal legislative duties.

“We are working to ensure that the Diaspora voting becomes a reality.

“Although, there are some challenges to be worked out in the implementation, nonetheless, the process has begun,” the Oyo State-born legislator was quoted as saying in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Olamilekan Olusada.

Mrs Akande-Sadipe, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, stressed that Nigerians living outside the country have as much stake in the present and future of Nigeria as those who live in Nigeria.

She revealed that the House of Representatives has thrown its weight behind the enfranchisement of Nigerians abroad and that the bill in the amended format will come up for the second reading upon resumption from the recess, noting that the Speaker of the House, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, is also in support of the bill.

The lawmaker further assured citizens living abroad of the readiness of the 9th Assembly to partner with all relevant stakeholders in formulating policies that represent Sustainable National Growth and Development.

She, however, called on the federal government to leverage on Diaspora Resources for National Development, which is aimed at creating an avenue for prospective, meaningful and sustainable diaspora investments.

“If well realized will boost economic growth and development of our great country – Nigeria,” she declared.

Mrs Akande-Sadipe charged the federal government to intensify the design and implementation of strategies to harness the nation’s grossly underutilised potentials in the diaspora.

This, she said would successfully transition the Nigerian economy from the state of commodity-dominated production to high value-added production.