General News
SERAP Asks National Assembly to Drop Bill to Jail Nigerians who Fail to Vote
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Godswill Akpabio, Senate president, and Tajudeen Abbas, speaker of the House of Representatives, “to immediately withdraw the oppressive bill which contains repressive provisions to jail any Nigerian of voting age for six months and/or impose a fine of N100,000 on them if they fail to vote in national and state elections.”
SERAP urged Akpabio and Abbas to instead “amend the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] and the Electoral Act 2022 to remove constitutional immunity for state governors and their deputies who commit electoral offences, including vote-buying, to facilitate the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators.”
SERAP also urged Akpabio and Abbas “to amend the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to explicitly prohibit the appointment of members of any political party as resident electoral commissioners (RECs) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”
There is currently in the National Assembly a ‘Bill for an Act to Amend the Electoral Act 2022 to Make It Mandatory for All Nigerians of Majority Age to Vote in All National and State Elections and for Related Matters.’ The bill seeks to make voting compulsory and prescribes a six-month jail term or a fine of N100,000 or both for non-compliance.
In the letter signed by Kolawole Oluwadare, deputy director, SERAP at the weekend, the organisation said: “Jailing eligible Nigerians for deciding not to vote would be entirely inconsistent and incompatible with the letter and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international human rights obligations.”
SERAP said, “Rather than proposing bills that would severely punish Nigerians who may decide not to exercise their right to vote, the National Assembly ought to propose bills to remove constitutional immunity for governors and their deputies who commit electoral offences and undermine the integrity of the electoral process.”
According to SERAP, “The most effective way to solve the perennial voter apathy is to create a safe and conducive environment, combat the impunity of high-ranking politicians who commit electoral offences, and generally improve the electoral process to encourage the citizens to come out to vote, and not to send them to jail.”
The letter, read in part: “Should the National Assembly fails to drop the bill prescribing a six-month jail term for eligible Nigerians who decide not to vote in national and state elections, and should any such bill be assented to by President Bola Tinubu, SERAP would consider appropriate legal action to challenge the legality of any such law and ensure they are never implemented.”
“The idea of compulsory voting and jailing citizens for not voting is impracticable, unnecessary and unlawful. The right to vote is part of citizens’ right to participate in their own government and the choice of whether to exercise it is personal.”
“The right to vote includes the right not to vote. If the right to participation is a right of the citizen, she/he must be free to decide whether or not to exercise it.”
“Because the notion of a democracy exists by virtue of the consent of the citizens, voters must get to choose how they exercise consent, not be forced to the polls like ‘cattle to the slaughter.’”
“The National Assembly ought to propose bills to reduce the influence of money in politics, and encourage and not compel the exercise of the right to participation.”
“The proposed bill is a blatant violation of the right to political participation, which is guaranteed under section 14(1)(c) of the Nigerian Constitution, article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights to which Nigeria is a state party.”
“SERAP also urges you to amend the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to include explicit mandatory provisions on internet voter registration, and the use of modern technology, including in casting and counting, voter registration and systems for reporting results.”
“Amending the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act to explicitly include the right of eligible Nigerians to vote and to vote securely would enhance the effective enjoyment of their right political participation and representative democracy.”
“It would rebuild public confidence in the ability of the National Assembly to effectively perform its constitutional responsibilities.”
“Any amendment of the Nigerian Constitution and the Electoral Act must include bills to address and punish governors and their deputies and their agents who commit electoral offences including voter suppression, voter intimidation and the destruction of polling units or theft of election materials.”
“It is important for the National Assembly to introduce and pass bills that would effectively rein politicians who continue to abuse the electoral rules to distort and undermine the right to participation with almost absolute impunity.”
“Removing constitutional immunity for governors and their deputies who commit electoral offences would address the brazen impunity for electoral and human rights crimes which frequently characterise the country’s elections.”
“The major problem facing the country’s democracy is the lack of respect for Nigerians’ right to participation and the concomitant lack of trust in election results. If citizens do not believe in the election process, then the entire system of democratic government becomes a questionable enterprise.”
“The crisis confronting Nigerian elections and lack of public trust and confidence in the electoral process can be addressed if the right of Nigerians to vote and to vote securely is explicitly recognized in the constitution as justiciable right.”
“Nigerians do not currently enjoy explicit right to vote and to vote securely. Although the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] provides in Section 14(1)(c) that, “the participation by the people in their government shall be ensured in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution”, this is not recognized as legally enforceable human right.”
“Nigerian election laws ought to be such that would give effect to the electorate’s will and uphold the popular mandate through clean, fair, and honest elections. The right to vote in a democracy is important because so many other matters depend upon its exercise.”
Nigerian Military, in partnership with Briech UAS, a communications company, has unveiled the first and largest indigenous attack drones and bombs in Nigeria and Africa.
Briech UAS, alongside the Nigerian Army, demonstrated these attack drones and bombs at the company’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
General Christopher Musa, chief of Defence Staff (CDS), hailed the initiative as a significant milestone in Nigeria’s progress toward self-reliance in defence technology and a crucial step in enhancing national security.
Musa highlighted the importance of developing combat drones, particularly for intelligence gathering. He pointed out that these drones would play a pivotal role in addressing complex and asymmetric security threats.
“These force multipliers will greatly enhance the operational effectiveness of our military, especially in a world where global politics complicate the procurement of advanced military hardware,” he stated.
“Countries that do not produce these solutions face bureaucratic and diplomatic challenges when acquiring essential platforms. We are directly addressing this challenge.
“If we do not produce what we need, we will be at the mercy of others, even if we have the financial resources to acquire them.
“By manufacturing these drones locally, Nigeria reduces dependence on foreign resources, ensures faster acquisition, and strengthens its ability to respond to security threats swiftly.
“With the brilliant minds we have, particularly among our youth, we can create outstanding technology that competes on a global scale,” Musa said.
Plateau Governor Caleb Mutfwang underlined the importance of supporting indigenous products for Nigeria’s growth.
He stressed that the drones would be vital in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, particularly in Plateau State, where some of these technologies have already been deployed to enhance the efficiency of ground forces.
Mutfwang also revealed that his state was collaborating with local bomb and drone manufacturers like Briech UAS to counter insurgency with domestically produced weapons.
“As a nation, we made a mistake by allowing non-state actors to acquire capabilities nearly on par with state actors,” he stated.
“We’ve entered into a partnership that has led to the deployment of these facilities in our state. We’ve seen substantial improvements in the effectiveness of our security forces.
“It was a mistake to let non-state actors gather capabilities that could almost overpower legitimate state forces. We must correct that imbalance.
“We must ensure no one within our borders has capabilities that surpass or match those responsible for protecting our national sovereignty,” he added.
Earlier, Dr Bright Echefu, chairman of Briech UAS, noted that insurgent groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP have been using commercial drones for reconnaissance and attacks.
“These drones have been used to track and attack our troops, coordinating ambushes and executing crude aerial strikes,” he said.
Digital Bridge Institute (DBI), has trained and graduated 49 persons with disabilities (PWDs) from a nine-month IT programme aimed at bridging Nigeria’s digital divide.
The graduates, comprising 24 from DBI’s Lagos campus and 25 from its Kano campus, acquired industry-recognized certifications and essential digital skills to enhance their participation in the tech sector.
The IT Bridge Academy, a federal government initiative designed to support PWDs, provides specialized training to help them access opportunities in the modern digital economy.
The programme was implemented in partnership with Sightsavers International and is only the second of its kind in Africa, after a similar initiative in Kenya.
At the Lagos graduation ceremony, David Daser, president and CEO, DBI, represented by Viola Askia-Usoro, institute’s head of special duties, described the initiative as a major step towards digital inclusion.
“This academy is not just about education; it’s about creating opportunities for PWDs to realize their full potential,” he stated, highlighting the programme’s role in tackling stigma, discrimination, and limited access to training.
Daser urged the graduates to advocate for digital accessibility and called on public and private sector stakeholders to support inclusive initiatives that empower PWDs in Nigeria’s technology space.
Speaking on behalf of the graduates, cohort 2 class governor Amos Adegboyega acknowledged the challenges they faced during the programme and expressed gratitude for the support received, saying, “There are abilities in disability, and this training has given us the confidence to achieve our dreams.”
In a bid to strengthen communities worldwide, Airbnb has announced the recipients of its annual Community Fund grants for 2025. This year, the initiative will distribute over ₦13 billion ($8.5 million USD) to more than 160 nonprofits across 30 countries globally.
Among the beneficiaries are six organisations in Africa, where efforts focus on economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and combating abuse and exploitation.
Launched in 2020, the Airbnb Community Fund is a ₦153 billion ($100 million USD) initiative aimed at directly supporting communities and residents globally. By 2030, the Fund is projected to disburse its full ₦153 billion commitment.
Each year, Airbnb collaborates with local hosts to nominate and select nonprofit organisations for funding. Hosts act as key contributors, leveraging their deep understanding of community needs to guide impactful donations.
African Recipients Leading Change
This year, funding was allocated to nonprofits tackling pressing social issues. Among the African beneficiaries are:
Digify Africa, South Africa: Empowering young people with digital skills for economic growth.
AfriLabs, Nigeria: Supporting entrepreneurs with funding and networks for scaling businesses.
Children of Africa, Kenya: Advocating for vocational training and education for underprivileged girls.
Global Give Back Circle, Kenya: Providing vulnerable girls and young women with opportunities for transformative community impact.
Qhakaza Mohare, Chief Operating Officer of Digify Africa, praised Airbnb’s contribution, emphasizing its role in expanding initiatives and creating sustainable impacts in underserved communities.
Global Impact
To date, the Airbnb Community Fund has distributed over ₦55 billion ($36 million USD) to nonprofits in nearly 70 countries, with hosts driving much of its success.
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