The House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora has revealed that the National Assembly will commence second reading on Diaspora Voting Bill for the enfranchisement of Nigerians living in the Diaspora.
Chairman, House Committee on Diaspora Affairs, Tolulope Akande-Sadipe, revealed this on Thursday in a statement signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Olamilekan Olusada.
Olusada said Akande-Sadipe made the revelation during a meeting with Nigerians living in the United States, saying that was part of the 9th Assembly’s commitment to the Diaspora community.
Akande-Sadipe opined that Nigerians living outside the country had as much stake in the present and future of Nigeria as those who lived in Nigeria, hence the need for the bill to be attended to.
“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,” she said.
She revealed that the House of Representatives had thrown its weight behind the enfranchisement of Nigerians abroad and that the bill in the amended format would come up for the second reading upon resumption from the recess.
She conveyed the goodwill of the Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, and the House Committee on Diaspora.
Akande-Sadipe further assured citizens living abroad of the readiness of the National Assembly to partner with all relevant stakeholders in formulating policies that represented 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 realised it will boost economic growth and development of our great country – Nigeria”
She charged the federal government to intensify the design and implementation of strategies to harness the nation’s grossly underutilised potentials in the diaspora.
That, she said, would successfully transition the Nigerian economy from the state of commodity-dominated production to high value-added production.
