A Bill to amend the Electoral Act, 2002, and make voting mandatory for all Nigerians of voting age has passed its second reading in the House of Representatives.
The proposed law, sponsored by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas and Daniel Asama Ago, aims to address the growing issue of voter apathy and encourage more citizens to participate in elections.
Daniel Ago, representing Bassa/Jos North under the Labour Party, emphasized that the bill would reduce the influence of vote-buying and ensure a more credible electoral process. He cited Australia, where compulsory voting has been successfully implemented, as an example for Nigeria to follow.
Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu supported the bill, stating that it was a step in the right direction for strengthening democracy in the country.
However, some lawmakers raised concerns about the public’s trust in the voting system, especially questioning the authenticity of the voters’ register.
In addition, a separate Maternity Leave bill proposing an extension from three to six months was withdrawn after heated debate. Critics, including female lawmakers, argued that the proposal could discourage employers from hiring women.
Furthermore, the House of Representatives called for the establishment of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centres in all 774 local government areas of Nigeria, following technical issues reported in this year’s Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) admitted to errors affecting the performance of over 370,000 candidates.
The Senate is also expected to propose budgetary provisions for additional CBT centres in the 2026 fiscal year to ensure easier access to examinations for students across the country.
