The Federal Government has announced its intention to push forward the Diaspora Voting Bill, a landmark initiative aimed at allowing Nigerians living abroad to participate in national elections.
This development marks a major step toward inclusive democracy, ensuring that citizens outside the country can contribute to the nation’s political process. The announcement was made on Monday by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during the opening of the Nigerian Stakeholders Engagement on Diaspora Governance held in Abuja.
The event also featured the launch of the Nigerians in Diaspora Response (NiDRes) Application and Website, a collaborative project between the House Committee on Diaspora and the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) designed to enhance engagement with Nigerians abroad.
In a statement issued by NiDCOM’s spokesperson, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the Speaker reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating opportunities for Nigerians in the diaspora to play a more active role in shaping the country’s democratic future. Quoting Abbas, the statement emphasized that the proposed Diaspora Voting Bill would “grant Nigerians living abroad the constitutional right to participate in national elections.”
Speaking through his representative, Patrick Umoh, the Speaker described the initiative as a “major step towards extending democratic participation to all citizens and ensuring that every Nigerian voice is heard in the process of nation-building.” He added that the 10th House of Representatives is focused on strengthening diaspora inclusion as part of its broader legislative agenda that promotes accountability, transparency, and economic reform.
Further elaborating on the initiative, Tochukwu Okere, Chairman of the House Committee on Diaspora, explained that the Nigerian Stakeholders Engagement on Diaspora Governance 2025 (NiSEDiG 2025) seeks to establish a comprehensive policy framework that integrates institutions, legislation, and technology for improved diaspora governance.
According to him, this effort aims to bridge the gap between Nigerians abroad and home-based institutions, ensuring smoother collaboration and efficient policy implementation. The newly unveiled NiDRes App and Website are expected to make government services more accessible to Nigerians overseas, simplifying communication with embassies and high commissions while providing real-time support and updates from government agencies.
In her keynote address, the Chairman of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, highlighted the progress made in diaspora engagement since the commission was established six years ago. She noted that Nigerian professionals in the diaspora have made significant contributions across sectors such as health, education, agriculture, ICT, transportation, and volunteerism.
“Over the past six years, the Nigeria–Diaspora relationship has made groundbreaking strides,” she said, adding that the country has now entered a new phase focused on consolidating these achievements to further drive national development. Dabiri-Erewa emphasized that this renewed collaboration would not only strengthen ties between the government and Nigerians abroad but also harness their skills, resources, and networks for the nation’s growth.
Dabiri-Erewa also recalled the approval of the National Diaspora Policy by the Federal Executive Council in April 2021, which provides a structured framework for promoting diaspora participation in nation-building. She explained that the Diaspora Data Mapping Portal, launched in June 2021, has continued to serve as an essential tool for collecting data to guide policy decisions and foster development.
The portal, she noted, helps the government identify skilled Nigerians across various countries and create targeted programs that maximize their impact. She further stressed that diaspora remittances have remained Nigeria’s largest source of foreign exchange, amounting to US$23.81 billion in 2019, representing about six percent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Meanwhile, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has consistently called for a constitutional amendment to enable diaspora voting, along with expanding voting rights for specific groups within the country, such as members of the armed forces and election officials deployed during voting periods.
The commission believes that granting Nigerians in the diaspora the right to vote will enhance inclusivity, deepen democracy, and strengthen national unity. With the government’s latest move to advance the Diaspora Voting Bill, many observers say the process could finally give millions of Nigerians abroad the long-awaited opportunity to have a say in determining the country’s political direction.