The Federal Government has announced plans to advance the Diaspora Voting Bill, which seeks to grant Nigerians living abroad the constitutional right to participate in national elections.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during the Nigerian Stakeholders Engagement on Diaspora Governance in Abuja. The event also marked the launch of the Nigerians in Diaspora Response application and website, developed through collaboration between the House Committee on Diaspora and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
In a statement by NiDCOM spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, Abbas reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening democratic inclusion by ensuring that every Nigerian, regardless of location, has a voice in the electoral process.
Speaking through Patrick Umoh, Abbas described the bill as “a major step towards extending democratic participation to all citizens and ensuring that every Nigerian voice counts in the process of nation-building.”
He added that the 10th House of Representatives places high priority on diaspora engagement as part of its legislative agenda focused on inclusion, accountability, and reform-driven governance.
Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, Tochukwu Okere, said the Nigerian Stakeholders Engagement on Diaspora Governance (NiSEDiG) 2025 is designed to create a unified framework that integrates policy, legislation, and technology for more effective diaspora coordination.
He explained that the newly launched NiDRes App and website will simplify access to government services for Nigerians abroad and enhance communication between citizens and Nigerian missions.
NiDCOM Chairman Abike Dabiri-Erewa, in her keynote address, highlighted the commission’s achievements since its establishment six years ago, citing progress in health, ICT, agriculture, and volunteerism.
She said diaspora remittances remain a major source of foreign exchange, totaling $23.81 billion in 2019, about 6 percent of Nigeria’s GDP.
