The Nigerian Senate is reportedly reconsidering a proposed bill that would grant Nigerian nationals living abroad the right to participate in the country’s general elections.

The move comes amid the deluge of controversial elections that have characterized the Nigerian electoral system for years, with no plan in place to address it.

Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti) disclosed this during a virtual discussion hosted by the Engage Diaspora Foundation in collaboration with the Directorate of Diaspora and International Affairs.

The dialogue, themed “A Pivotal Step Toward Achieving Diaspora Voting Right,” focused on the bill that aims to amend the 1999 Constitution to enable Nigerians in other countries to vote in national elections.

Bamidele revealed that the bill had undergone its first reading and was scheduled for a second reading in the Senate.

The move comes after the 9th Senate rejected a similar diaspora voting bill in March 2022. The previous bill sought to extend voting rights to Nigerians outside the country, addressing the concerns and desires of the diaspora community.

In his presentation, Bamidele assured Nigerians in the diaspora that the 10th Senate would make additional efforts to pass the bill this time. He stated, “We will do our best to make sure that this time around, we achieve your desire in this regard.”

Nigeria has a significant diaspora population, with millions of Nigerians living abroad. The top ten countries with Nigerian populations include the USA, the UK, Germany, Italy, Canada, France, South Africa, Ireland, China, and the Netherlands.

Will their votes count?

However, questions have been raised about the credibility and impact of diaspora votes. The Nigerian electoral system has faced challenges such as malpractices and violence, leading to a lack of trust among the electorate. This is despite the 2022 Electoral Act, believed to be the game changer will bring sanity to the system.

In 2023 alone, a high number of electoral cases, including the presidential election, was decided by the court – a situation that pro-democracy advocates say thwarts the will of the people.

However, proponents of diaspora voting argue that extending the right to Nigerians abroad is essential for a more inclusive democratic process. Still, skeptics raise concerns about the effectiveness and impact of diaspora votes, considering the existing challenges within the Nigerian electoral system.

As the Senate revisits the diaspora voting bill, it remains to be seen how the concerns surrounding the credibility of elections will be addressed.

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have instructed workers across the country to commence a nationwide strike, defying a court order that restrained them from embarking on the industrial action.

The strike comes in response to the assault on the National President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, in Imo State last week during a demonstration over salary and pension arrears.

The unions issued a joint statement on Monday, directing workers to withdraw their services from midnight, citing the decision of the Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of NLC and TUC.

“In furtherance to the decision of the Joint National Executive Council (NEC) of NLC and TUC, all workers in Nigeria are hereby directed to withdraw their services effective 12:00 midnight today, 13th November 2023,” the unions said in a joint statement.

“Consequently, all affiliates and state councils of NLC/TUC are directed to issue circulars for maximum compliance and these circulars be made available to the National Secretariats or posted to the NEC and CWC Whatsapp Platforms.”

Despite the court order issued by the National Industrial Court (NIC) to restrain the unions from going on strike, the NLC and TUC pressed forward with their decision. The unions had demanded justice for the assault on Joe Ajaero and called for the resignation of police officials involved in the incident.

The strike announcement follows last week’s picketing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja by the unions, causing disruptions and leaving travelers stranded. The unions have expressed concerns about the suppression of peaceful protests and gatherings of workers in Nigeria.

The office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) has responded to the unions’ insistence on the strike, advising against it and emphasizing the court order issued on Friday to stop the planned strike.

In a statement by Kamarudeen Ogundele, the spokesperson for the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, the office reminded the unions of the restraining order issued by the National Industrial Court in Abuja on Friday. The order prohibits the unions from proceeding with the planned strike.

“The interim order was granted on 10 November by the President of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria, Justice B. B. Kanyip.

“The unions have been served the court order and, therefore, must surrender themselves to the authority of the court which is already seized with the facts of the case.

“Any action taken contrary to the order will be tantamount to contempt of court,” Mr Ogundele stated in a statement.

Despite the legal intervention and warnings, the NLC and TUC proceeded with the nationwide strike. The AGF’s office emphasized the need for the unions to respect the court order and adhere to the rule of law, urging workers to report for duties and assuring them of safety within the bounds of the law.

The situation adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing dispute between the unions and the government, with potential legal repercussions for defying the court order.