The Nigerian House of Representatives has announced that the Federal Government is advancing plans for a Diaspora Voting Bill, which seeks to grant Nigerians living abroad the constitutional right to participate in national elections.
The news was confirmed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, during the launch of the Nigerian Stakeholders Engagement on Diaspora Governance (NiSEDiG 2025) in Abuja. The initiative was organised by the House Committee on Diaspora in conjunction with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
Speaking through his representative, Patrick Umoh, the Speaker described the initiative as a “major step towards extending democratic participation to all citizens” and ensuring every Nigerian voice contributes to nation-building.
Consolidating Diaspora Engagement
The event also saw the launch of the new Nigerians in Diaspora Response (NiDRes) App and Website, designed to simplify how Nigerians abroad access government services and communicate with missions globally.
Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman and CEO of NiDCOM, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the significant progress made since the Commission’s establishment six years ago. She noted that the relationship has achieved “groundbreaking strides” in health, education, and ICT, and has now entered a phase of consolidating engagement to boost national development.
Ms. Dabiri-Erewa underscored the economic importance of the diaspora, stating that remittances remain Nigeria’s largest source of foreign exchange, amounting to US$23.81 billion in 2019, which accounts for approximately 6% of the nation’s GDP.
The NiSEDiG 2025 event, which brought together stakeholders from government agencies and diaspora organizations, was described as a symbol of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to building a stronger, more structured, and inclusive engagement ecosystem with its citizens abroad.
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