By The Publisher
A bill seeking to make voting compulsory for Nigerians of voting age on Thursday scaled second reading in the House of Representatives.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 proposed legislation seeks to introduce compulsory voting for eligible Nigerians.
The bill which was first introduced by Speaker of the House, Abbas Tajudeen in February proposes imposing a maximum of six months imprisonment or a fine of no more than N100,000 for Nigerians of voting age who fail to vote during elections.Presenting the bill during Thursday’s plenary session, co-sponsor of the bill and member representing Bassa/Jos North Federal Constituency, Daniel Asama, argued that compulsory voting would deepen democracy, strengthen civic engagement, and reduce voter apathy.
According to him, democracy thrives when citizens are actively engaged in the process of selecting their leaders and shaping the direction of governance.He lamented Nigeria’s persistently low voter turnout, stating that it undermines electoral legitimacy and weakens democratic institutions.”Voting is not only the right, but a civic responsibility.
For global precedents, several democracies including Australia, Belgium and Brazil, for instance, have adopted mandatory voting for the positive outcomes in terms of political participation and public accountability.
For electoral apathy and voter inducement, mandatory voting can significantly reduce the influence of vote buying as more citizens vote”, the lawmaker argued.In his contribution, Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu supported the bill, saying it a good proposition and a step towards entrenching civic responsibility.According to him, Nigerians are quick to condemn administrations, but slow to fulfil their civic obligations.
