NiDCOM will continue to advocate for Diaspora voting in Nigerian elections – Official
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said on Wednesday that it will continue to advocate for the passage of the Diaspora Suffrage Bill which was shut down months ago by the Nigerian parliament.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, President of NiDCOM, at a press briefing to announce the upcoming National Diaspora Day, said the commission would continue to appeal to the national assembly.
“Without the National Assembly amending the laws, we are all powerless. We need to keep pushing, begging, advocating for Parliament to understand the need for the Diaspora vote and all of you in the media should make it a topic of discussion,” she said.
According to Ms. Dabiri-Erewa, Diaspora voting is something that needs to happen; although parliament says Nigeria has yet to perfect the vote and is therefore not ready for the diaspora vote.
"If we keep waiting for perfection, nothing will happen and INEC is ready. Now there is an electronic transmission of the results, so it's just to involve the national assembly more", a- she said.
The national assembly had voted against the diaspora vote in March during a revision of the constitution while the INEC declared that it was ready for the diaspora vote.
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa instructed members of the Nigerian in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE) present at the meeting to also lend their voice to advocacy.
Nigerian Diaspora National DayNigeria will mark its National Diaspora Day on July 25 with a hybrid event in Abuja, the national capital.
The event themed “Diaspora Engagement in Global Challenging Times for National Development”, according to Ms. Dabiri-Erewa, is critical for national development as “no nation in the world will develop without its Diaspora".
She added that it would be a networking, advocacy and mobilization event to celebrate the achievements of over 17 million Nigerians in the Diaspora who are contributing to national development; as well as facilitating Diaspora engagements with Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), among others.
Susan Waya, President of NIDO UK South, said: "We use National Diaspora Day to empower the less privileged. It's not just about sending money home, but about identify with home."
She also urged young people to stop the mass exodus from the country, saying "There is nothing there."
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
The Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM) said on Wednesday that it will continue to advocate for the passage of the Diaspora Suffrage Bill which was shut down months ago by the Nigerian parliament.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, President of NiDCOM, at a press briefing to announce the upcoming National Diaspora Day, said the commission would continue to appeal to the national assembly.
“Without the National Assembly amending the laws, we are all powerless. We need to keep pushing, begging, advocating for Parliament to understand the need for the Diaspora vote and all of you in the media should make it a topic of discussion,” she said.
According to Ms. Dabiri-Erewa, Diaspora voting is something that needs to happen; although parliament says Nigeria has yet to perfect the vote and is therefore not ready for the diaspora vote.
"If we keep waiting for perfection, nothing will happen and INEC is ready. Now there is an electronic transmission of the results, so it's just to involve the national assembly more", a- she said.
The national assembly had voted against the diaspora vote in March during a revision of the constitution while the INEC declared that it was ready for the diaspora vote.
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa instructed members of the Nigerian in Diaspora Organization Europe (NIDOE) present at the meeting to also lend their voice to advocacy.
Nigerian Diaspora National DayNigeria will mark its National Diaspora Day on July 25 with a hybrid event in Abuja, the national capital.
The event themed “Diaspora Engagement in Global Challenging Times for National Development”, according to Ms. Dabiri-Erewa, is critical for national development as “no nation in the world will develop without its Diaspora".
She added that it would be a networking, advocacy and mobilization event to celebrate the achievements of over 17 million Nigerians in the Diaspora who are contributing to national development; as well as facilitating Diaspora engagements with Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), among others.
Susan Waya, President of NIDO UK South, said: "We use National Diaspora Day to empower the less privileged. It's not just about sending money home, but about identify with home."
She also urged young people to stop the mass exodus from the country, saying "There is nothing there."
Support the integrity and credibility journalism of PREMIUM TIMES Good journalism costs a lot of money. Yet only good journalism can guarantee the possibility of a good society, an accountable democracy and a transparent government. For free and continued access to the best investigative journalism in the country, we ask that you consider providing modest support to this noble endeavour. By contributing to PREMIUM TIMES, you help sustain relevant journalism and keep it free and accessible to everyone.Donate
[embedded content]TEXT ANNOUNCEMENT: Call Willie - +2348098788999
What's Your Reaction?
